In Memory of Country Music Icon John Denver: 27 Years After His Tragic Death in a Plane Accident

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It's been 27 years since the tragic death of country music icon John Denver. The singer-songwriter was also a record producer, actor, activist, and humanitarian. Denver died on October 12, 1997, at only 53 years old. This is his story.

A Closer Look

John Denver was born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. on December 31, 1943, in Roswell, New Mexico, into a military family. After traveling and living in numerous locations, Denver commenced his career with folk music groups in the late 1960s.

Into the 1970s, Denver became one of the most popular acoustic artists of the decade and one of its best-selling artists. Some of his biggest hits have included "Rocky Mountain High," "Take Me Home, Country Road," and "Annie."

Transition to Acting

John Denver began acting in comedy sketches on various TV variety shows and specials, including a few of his own. Then, in 1977, the multi-talented performer made his big screen debut in Oh, God! co-starring George Burns and directed by Carl Reiner.

Twenty Years Later - Tragedy Struck

On October 12, 1997, John Denver was killed when his experimental Rutan Long-EZ plane, aircraft registration number N555JD, crashed into Monterey Bay near Pacific Grove, California, while making a series of touch-and-go landings at the nearby Monterey Peninsula Airport.

Denver was the sole occupant of the aircraft. Identification was not feasible utilizing dental records; only his fingerprints confirmed that the pilot was Denver.

The official cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma resulting from the crash.

The Sad Irony

Like too many performers before and after him, including Glenn Miller, Buddy Holly, Ricky Nelson, Dino Martin, and Ritchie Valens, John Denver died in a tragic plane accident.