Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza - "Flight Into Rock & Roll History" Print

On February 3, 1959, at approximately 1:00 AM, Dwyer Flying Service Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza N3794N took off from the Mason City Municipal Airport. The weather is recorded that night as lightly snowing but what the pilot did not realize is a snow storm was moving in fast. History records shortly after takeoff, pilot Roger Peterson became disoriented in the white out conditions at altitude. He had over 700 hours of flying experience but not enough flying on instruments only. Without being able to see the horizon he flew the aircraft into the ground at high speed killing Peterson  and all three passengers on board. They were Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J. P. “Big Bopper” Richardson.  The tragedy shocked the world and forever changed the history of Rock and Roll. Years later the event became known as “The Day The Music Died” from a lyric by Don Mclean I his 1971 song “American Pie”.  The musicians had been part of the “Winter Dance Party" tour making its way across the Midwest. Con