Image Via Find A Grave
On September 20, 1973, Jim Croce and five other people were killed when their small aircraft took off from the Natchitoches Regional Airport and hit a large pecan tree. Croce had just completed a concert at Northwestern State University’s Prather Coliseum in Natchitoches and was flying to Sherman, Texas, for a concert at Austin College. The plane crashed an hour after the end of the concert. Croce was 30 years old.
The aircraft was a Beech E18S (registration N50JR), operated by Robert Airways on a charter flight.
The official probable cause: the pilot failed to see and avoid an obstruction (pecan tree) during the initial climb. The pilot’s physical impairment and obstructed vision (haze/fog) were contributing factors.
The six people on board that died in the crash:
Jim Croce (age 30)
Maury Muehleisen — guitarist and Croce’s musical partner.
Robert N. Elliott — pilot.
Kenneth D. Cortese — booking agent/manager.
Dennis Rast — road manager.
George Stevens — comedian / opening act.
Jim is buried at Haym Salomon Memorial Park in Frazer, PA.
Natchitoches Regional Airport
450 Wallenberg Dr
Natchitoches LA 71457
My ex father in law was friends with most of the Natchitoches Sheriffs Dept. and the Natchitoches Police Dept. To this day there are stories about that plane crash, and it has nothing to do with a tree. Where the Natchitoches Airport is, and where the actual crash site is, is over 5 Miles. And the site wasn’t easy to get to as it is now because of an extra bypass road they put in north of Natchitoches.
Dawn: I’d be happy to listen about your non-tree related plane accident info. Please contact me at: rhbmedia1@gmail.com. Thanks.–rhb
Yeah, yeah, I heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend who heard it from….oops wrong band…Anyway, the crash site was within 250 yards of the runway. There is plenty of documentation to back that up.
Absolutely right. I would like to find out how tall the pecan tree was that the plane clipped? Also how high did the plane get up to, the altitude?
Hi Dawn.. Was there a map that shows proximity between the airport and the crash site? Most of the readily available info makes no mention of the distance from the airport to the crash site.
Appreciating any insight.
Chris
Nashville, TN
They make it sound like it was right at the end of the runway
I find it hard to believe that a tree would be right at the end of the runway! Please tell me/us the TRUTH of what REALLY happened. Jim Croce was one of the BEST—a great song writer and performer.
What they say it probably happened is that the pilot had a heart attack while taking off (he suffered from coronary disease and had to rush to get to the airport). He didn’t really lift the plane enough to avoid the trees and would have soon fallen to the ground anyway.
Jim Croce was one of the best, if not THE best songwriters and performers—EVER! When I listen to his songs; especially I’ll have to say I Love You in a Song, I literally cry because it’s like he wrote it with me in mind. That is exactly why my 40 -year marriage ended in divorce. I never could say what I was feeling. Jim Croce was very down-to-earth and that’s what I especially liked about his songs1
I know that Jim is resting until the day he can be with us again—-and write some more great music!
I remember Jim Croce’s songs from 1971-1973. I wonder why so many of our best musicians and entertainers ha e to die at such young ages. Makes me wonder what’s the meaning of it all?. I know accidents happen but why so often to our beloved entertainers???
The tree was 590 feet beyond the end of the runway, but the NTSB report does not say how high the tree (yes, single tree) was or at what altitude he was it.
Using google earth and their measuring and using the airport departure traffic pattern I would estimate the crash happened just beyond the rout 1 bypass. One of the crash photos shows the tree along a fence and to me the tree looks to be 50-60 feet in height which is about average for pecan trees. Jim was a super great songwriter and singer and is sorely missed.
That would put the plane really close to the road
I was only 11yrs old when he died but he is the one who really got me into the music world. I was so into his music that I drew all kinds of portraits of him. I was addicted to his songs. I cried when he died. I finally got to see his son AJ in Annapolis. I wanted him to autograph one of the pictures I had drawn when I was 11. He was a little too busy to stop and sign. That would have been a dream come true. A few weeks ago I was sitting in a cafe listening to a guitarist playing soft music. Every other song was Jim Croce. I couldn’t believe it! I tipped him well. I definitely would love to hear more about him. He was great!
Awfully close to the road at that distance