<sod>The pilot, [[Roger Peterson (pilot)|Roger Peterson]], took off in inclement weather<!-- The meteorological conditions at the time of the aircraft's takeoff were not "a snowstorm" as previously stated here, but "Precipitation ceiling 3,000 feet (1,800 feet AGL), sky obscured; visibility 6 miles; scattered light snow; temperature 18° F; winds south 20 knots, gusts to 30 knots; altimeter setting 29.85 inches". Snow level on the ground the morning after was 4 inches. See [[http://www.fiftiesweb.com/cab.htm]] for the Civil Aeronautics Board investigation report. -->, although he was not certified to fly by [[instrument flight rules|instruments only]]. Shortly after 1:00 a.m. on February 3, 1959, Holly, Valens, Richardson, and Peterson were killed instantly when their plane crashed at full throttle into a cornfield outside Mason City, Iowa, soon after take-off.{{sfn|Associated Press staff|1959}} The bodies of the entertainers were all ejected from the plane on impact, while Peterson's body remained entangled in the wreckage. Holly sustained fatal trauma to his head and chest and numerous lacerations and fractures of his arms and legs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autopsyfiles.org/reports/Celebs/holly,%20buddy_report.pdf |title=Coroner's report on Charles H. Holley, by Ralph E. Smiley, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa |format=PDF |publisher=Autopsyfiles.org |date=February 4, 1959 |accessdate=December 19, 2015}}</ref><eod>
<sod>The pilot, [[Roger Peterson (pilot)|Roger Peterson]], took off in inclement weather<!-- The meteorological conditions at the time of the aircraft's takeoff were not "a snowstorm" as previously stated here, but "Precipitation ceiling 3,000 feet (1,800 feet AGL), sky obscured; visibility 6 miles; scattered light snow; temperature 18° F; winds south 20 knots, gusts to 30 knots; altimeter setting 29.85 inches". Snow level on the ground the morning after was 4 inches. See [[http://www.fiftiesweb.com/cab.htm]] for the Civil Aeronautics Board investigation report. -->, although he was not certified to fly by [[instrument flight rules|instruments only]]. Shortly after 1:00&nbsp;a.m. on February 3, 1959, Holly, Valens, Richardson, and Peterson were killed instantly when their plane crashed at full throttle into a cornfield outside Mason City, Iowa, soon after take-off.{{sfn|Associated Press staff|1959}} The bodies of the entertainers were all ejected from the plane on impact, while Peterson's body remained entangled in the wreckage. Holly sustained fatal trauma to his head and chest and numerous lacerations and fractures of his arms and legs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autopsyfiles.org/reports/Celebs/holly,%20buddy_report.pdf |title=Coroner's report on Charles H. Holley, by Ralph E. Smiley, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa |format=PDF |publisher=Autopsyfiles.org |date=February 4, 1959 |accessdate=December 19, 2015}}</ref><eod>