The Day the Music Died...By Plane (But Not Really How We Imagined)
John Denver, the man, the myth, the legend...responsible for getting a whole generation hopelessly lost singing about "country roads" they never actually lived on. But besides his questionable navigational skills in song, Denver was a beloved folk icon with a smile that could melt glaciers (almost as effectively as global warming, but that's a story for another time).
So, how did this sunshine singer meet his maker? Did he get tangled in a kite string mishap while yodeling on a mountaintop? Was it a tragic case of spontaneous combustion brought on by excessive plaid wearing? Nope, and nope. Buckle up, because the truth is a little less dramatic, and a touch more mechanical.
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| What Was John Denver's Cause Of Death |
Fuel Shortage? More Like Fuel Shinanigans!
John Denver, it turns out, was a bit of an aviation enthusiast. Dude loved to fly his own plane, a fancy little contraption known as a Long-EZ. Now, this wasn't your average Cessna. This thing looked like it belonged on the set of a Star Wars movie filmed by a budget airline.
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One fateful day in 1997, John decided to take his Long-EZ for a spin. He did some loops, maybe buzzed the tower a bit (purely for fun, of course), and then went in for a landing. Except...the landing never came.
Here's the kicker: it turns out John's plane had a bit of a design quirk. The thingy that switches between fuel tanks (technical term, obviously) was kind of weirdly placed. Like, awkwardly between the pilot's legs kind of placed. Imagine trying to fiddle with that while also trying to, you know, land a plane.
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Long story short, John fumbled with the fuel switch, the engine sputtered, and the Long-EZ became a not-so-Long-Not-EZ anymore.
So, What Really Happened?
The official cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma from the crash. But the real culprit? A combination of an oddly designed plane and a case of mid-air fumbling. John Denver's death was a sad reminder that even the most sunshine-y singers can't outrun the laws of physics (especially when those laws involve poorly placed fuel switches).
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How To Avoid a Similar Fate (Probably Not, But Here's Some Advice Anyway)
How to Never Run Out of Gas:
- If you're not John Denver, this probably isn't a major concern. Cars are pretty good at reminding you when you're low on fuel.
- For planes? Maybe take a refresher course on how to use the fancy fuel thingy.
How to Not Crash Your Plane:
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- Don't fly planes. Seriously, they're complicated and expensive.
- If you must fly a plane, take lessons from a qualified instructor who won't put the fuel switch in weird places.
How to Avoid Being Kidnapped by a Disco Ball:
- This wasn't a thing that happened to John Denver, but hey, stranger things have happened (probably not involving disco balls, but you never know).
- Just be careful out there.
How to Write a Catchy Folk Song:
- Apparently, singing about mountains and country roads is a good start.
- Yodeling is optional, but highly encouraged.
How to Deal With a Case of the Mondays:
- Don't listen to John Denver exclusively. It's a slippery slope to full-blown wanderlust and an inexplicable urge to wear plaid.
- Coffee and a good breakfast burrito work wonders too.
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