Soon after takeoff, late at night and in poor, wintry weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the light aircraft, a Beechcraft Bonanza, which subsequently crashed into a cornfield, killing all four on board. Richardson, suffering from flu, swapped places with Jennings, taking his seat on the plane, while Allsup lost his seat to Valens on a coin toss. The long journeys between venues on board the cold, uncomfortable tour buses adversely affected the performers, with cases of flu and even frostbite.Īfter stopping at Clear Lake to perform, and frustrated by the conditions on the tour buses, Holly chose to charter a plane to reach their next venue in Moorhead, Minnesota. Rising artists Valens, Richardson, and vocal group Dion and the Belmonts had joined the tour as well. The event later became known as ' The Day the Music Died' after singer-songwriter Don McLean referred to it as such in his 1971 song ' American Pie'.Īt the time, Holly and his band, consisting of Waylon Jennings, Tommy Allsup, and Carl Bunch, were playing on the 'Winter Dance Party' tour across the Midwest. Richardson were all killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, together with pilot Roger Peterson. On February 3, 1959, American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and 'The Big Bopper' J. Taxis do not come to the airport for pickup without prior arrangement.Class=notpageimage| Location in the United States Travellers should contact the taxi service of their choice in advance.

The airport does not maintain a list of taxi companies.

Several taxi services operate in the Mason City / Clear Lake area. A courtesy phone to contact the shuttle service is available near Gate 2 and the baggage claim area in the main terminal.īest Western – (Toll Free) 80 / (641) 357-5253 Taxi Service The Best Western of Clear Lake offers complimentary shuttle service to and from the Mason City Municipal Airport. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 1-80, visit Jefferson Lines, or visit the Jefferson Lines counter located in the Mason City Municipal Airport Terminal. Jefferson Bus Lines offers daily bus service from the Mason City Municipal Airport to Minneapolis, Kansas City and Des Moines. They may be reached at 64 or at Jefferson Lines Enterprise provides on site pickup if arranged in advance and has a drop box for rental returns to the airport. Enterprise Rent-A-CarĮnterprise Rent-A-Car is located offsite in Mason City. There are many choices for ground transportation to and from the Mason City Municipal Airport.

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