While commercial aircraft crashes often kill all those onboard as a result of high impact, some passengers in light aircraft miraculously survive crash landings. Sadly, John Denver’s crash into Monterey Bay was reportedly high impact, with witnesses claiming they saw the plane enter steep decline shortly before it hit the water.
He had bought the plane just two weeks earlier, and despite his vast flying experience, he was unfamiliar with its design. In addition, builder Adrian Davis made alterations that impaired Denver’s ability to fly it. According to findings of the inquest into the musician’s death, the fuel selector handle, which allows a pilot to switch to another fuel tank in the event of the first one running dry, was positioned behind Denver’s shoulder. This means he would have to unbuckle himself to access it — an issue he had raised with a technician shortly before takeoff.
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It was also discovered that Denver had used a good deal of fuel executing practice take-offs and landings before heading off over Monterey Bay, where it is believed he would have run into trouble trying to change engines. Horrifyingly, Denver’s autopsy report describes how the singer’s dismembered body was recovered from the wreckage in separate parts, with several pieces of his anatomy missing, including a large portion of his head (via The Celebrity Archive). His death certificate states that his remains were found around 150 yards from the shore (via Autopsy Files).
