Not to criticize John Denver's airmanship in general - he was obviously
an accomplished aviator - BUT for this specific flight and leading up to it,
he showed less then perfection, rather
negligence:
John Denver did nothing for aviation. He had lost his license for
crashing his Porsche under the influence of alcohol. He had no license for
cars or airplanes.
If you see vice grips being used as a normal part of an aircrafts
equipment, what comes to your mind? I have got to buy this airplane? No, you
don't think that at all.
If you loose your license, do you think, I'm famous, so nobody will
notice me flying again with no license? No, you wouldn't.
And if you are out of fuel because you chose not to add any, will
changing tanks with your vise grips cure your problem? No it won't.
Whatever John Denver was, he was not a pilot. He raised our
insurance rates. He killed himself, and the world lost the benefit of his
talent, and he destroyed his family. He destroyed what could have been a nice
airplane. He made it more difficult for all of us to fly.
Lynn E. Hanover