US | Buddy Holly Feds Won't Re-Open Inquiry in Buddy Holly Crash Says man who made request didn't present new evidence By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Apr 28, 2015 9:42 AM CDT Copied In this photo taken Jan. 29, 2015, fans visit the crash site, north of Clear Lake, Iowa, where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, JP Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson died on Feb. 3, 1959. (AP Photo/Globe Gazette, Jeff Heinz) The National Transportation Safety Board has declined a request to reopen the investigation of the Iowa plane crash that killed musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JP "The Big Bopper" Richardson. The Civil Aeronautics Board ruled in 1959 that the most likely cause of the crash was pilot error. Snow was listed as a secondary cause. "While your letters imply facts by stating (It was reported), they do not contain the evidence needed to substantiate the information you present as factual," reads the April 21 letter to pilot LJ Coon, per the Mason City Globe Gazette. Coon, who requested the new inquiry, had contended that there were other issues involving weight and balance calculations, fuel-gauge readings, and more that contributed to the crash. Coon didn't respond to a request for comment yesterday. Read These Next More details coming out about the last party the Reiners attended. Susie Wiles thinks Trump has an 'alcoholic's personality.' First Australia victims lost their lives confronting the shooter. Trump's Reiner remarks were too much for some Republicans. Report an error