Ricky Nelson was a major ‘50s–‘60s teen‐idol, actor and musician. He rose to fame on the television show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and had numerous pop/rock hits.
By the 1980s he was still performing regularly, although his commercial peak was earlier.
On December 31, 1985, Ricky Nelson was aboard a twin‑engine DC‑3 aircraft (tail number N711Y) en‑route from Guntersville, Alabama to Dallas, Texas, where he was to perform at a New Year’s Eve concert. The aircraft hit utility wires and plunged into trees, then burst into flames. At about 5:14 p.m. CST the plane crash‑landed in a field near De Kalb, Texas (northeast Texas) after a serious in‑flight fire and smoke situation.
A total of 7 people aboard died — Ricky Nelson (age 45), his fiancée Helen Blair), and five members of his band/crew: Andy Chapin (keyboardist), Rick Intveld (drummer), Bobby Neal (guitarist), Patrick Woodward (bassist), and sound technician Donald “Clark” Russell.
Survivors: The two pilots survived — Brad Rank (pilot‑in‑command) and Kenneth Ferguson (co‑pilot). They escaped via cockpit windows, though one was seriously burned.
In 1987, Ricky was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by John Fogerty. He was also inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Private Property
DeKalb TX
There Is A Memorial Area At The Holiday Inn At Gunnersville, Alabama, Te Place Where Rick Spent His Last Night Before His Ill-Fated Flight The Next Day…
Did any of ricky Nelson fly? was Rick a pilot?