Reba McEntire is a very popular American country and gospel music artist active since 1975. Meanwhile, she is also an entrepreneur and actress. A major tragic event changed her career and life drastically. There was a huge plane crash on March 16, 1991 which took the lives of her 8 band members and road manager. The Reba McEntire Plane Crash is a very dark moment to this day. To be specific, the plane crashed into a mountain range at night. Indeed, this incident took place in San Diego, California, USA. Everyone on this aircraft lost their lives due to the crash, including the 2 pilots.
The Otay Mountains became the final destination for the band members and flight crew. Reba McEntire wasn’t on the plane as her band members and tour manager were travelling ahead. Even though her life was saved by staying behind, Reba was devastated after this plane crash incident. It certainly impacted her personality and career. To know more about this incident deeply, keep reading till the end. Further, this is a detailed guide on Reba McEntire Plane Crash. From the background story to the crash, investigation, victims, etc, this blog covers everything relevant.
Who Is Reba McEntire?
Her official name is known to be Reba Nell McEntire. She was born on March 28, 1955. And, Reba’s birthplace is McAlester, Oklahoma, USA. She is often addressed as The Queen of Country Music. Her professions include being a singer, producer, actress, TV personality, and entrepreneur. Reba McEntire stepped into the music industry back in 1975 and didn’t retire ever since. She is still active as a music artist and actress.
Throughout her journey, Reba’s music catalogue explored genres like country and gospel. Aside from her powerful singing vocals, Reba is also a talented guitarist and pianist. Formerly, she was part of The Singing McEntires, a music group/band. Lastly, she has worked with many record labels so far. This includes PolyGram Mercury, MCA, Nashville, Valory, Nash Icon, Big Machine, and Rockin’ R.
The Background Story Behind Reba McEntire Plane Crash
Even though it’s named “Reba McEntire Plane Crash”, she wasn’t on the plane. Actually, Reba stayed behind with her husband and stylist instead of boarding this private jet. Consisting of 8 band members, her tour manager, and 2 pilots, this plane crashed into the Otay Mountains. They were traveling for an upcoming Reba McEntire music concert. This mountain range is located in San Diego, California, USA. Everyone on the crashed plane was killed and a thorough investigation was launched by the authorities.
Back in the early 1990s, Reba used to have right schedules with hardly any spaces or breaks. Her professional life was very demanding. Alongside her touring band and manager, Reba was performing across different locations in the USA. In 1991, she just completed a private concert for IBM executives and the venue was in San Diego. Thereafter, Reba’s next concert was in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA. So, the band members and road manager boarded the plane that crashed later.
They were going to reach the next location before Reba as she was resting. Allegedly, she was suffering from a medical condition called Bronchitis. That’s why she decided to rest that night and take a separate flight in the morning. Hence, she planned to meet the band in Fort Wayne directly. Reba stayed behind with Narvel Blackstock, her husband. On the other hand, the private jet was getting ready to fly with her band members and tour manager. Only, they didn’t know the tragic fate that awaited them in the Otay Mountains.
Reba McEntire Plane Crash – What Actually Happened? Who Were The Victims?
It was approximately 1:45 AM on March 16, 1991 when the Reba McEntire plane crash took place. The band members and tour manager were flying in a Hawker Siddeley DH-125. You can understand it as a chartered twin engine private jet. The plane’s take off was witnessed from the Brown Field Municipal Airport. This private airfield and runway is located very close to the USA and Mexico border. After the takeoff, the plane was flying above the Otay Mountains (San Diego) when the crash took place.
Specifically, the plane was flying at an altitude of 3,300 feet in the air. That’s when the left wing of the plane got in contact with rocks and outcropping of the Otay Mountain. The plane was just 10 miles away from the airport it took off from. Due to the first impact and collision, the plane started doing the cartwheel maneuver. Eventually, this plane crashed and exploded on the side of the mountain. The reports about the weather at the time vary from clear to rainy and windy. All of the victims who died in the Reba McEntire Plane Crash are mentioned down below:
| Victim’s Name | Role/Profession |
|---|---|
| Donald Holmes | Main Pilot |
| Christopher Hollinger | Co-pilot |
| Jim Hammon | Road/Tour Manager of Reba McEntire |
| Chris Austin | Guitarist and vocalist |
| Michael Thomas | Guitarist |
| Kirk Cappello | Keyboard player and band leader |
| Joey Cigainero | Keyboard player |
| Paula Kkaye Evans | Vocalist |
| Terry Jackson | Bass player |
| Anthony Saputo | Drummer |
The Investigation of The Reba McEntire Plane Crash
The official investigation of this plane crash was handled by the NTSB i.e., National Transportation Safety Board. Moreover, the Federal Aviation Administration provided them assistance. Towards the end, many findings and conclusions were presented by the investigation teams. All of these are discussed below for your reference:
- The primary factors that caused the crash were claimed to be errors in navigation and the lack of proper pilot training. These claims led to a lot of public outrage as well.
- According to the official investigation, it was the duty of the two pilots to maintain the terrain clearance. And, they had to do so without relying upon the instruments and guidance from the radar. This is because the pilots were signed and filed under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
- Before crashing into the Otay Mountains, the flight path of the private jet was extremely close to the rising terrains of the mountain range. This should have been the primary signal of danger for the pilots.
- Additionally, there is also claimed to be a miscommunication between the pilots and FAA flight service specialists. This was regarding the terrain, airspace, and flight path. Experts believe that this led to the wrong assumptions by the pilots. Hence, they did not comprehend the safe flying altitudes correctly.
- Final Verdict: As the official investigation claims, the main fault behind the crash was the pilots. Some of the blame was even shared by the officials of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The main causes of the plane crash were improper planning, miscommunication, bad decision making by the pilots, and dangerous flying altitude. The private jet shouldn’t have had the clearance to fly over the Otay mountain in the first place.
Conclusion
Needless to say, Reba McEntire was devastated by the loss of the entire band crew and her tour manager. She shared that it felt like losing a major part of her family in one day. The grief and healing process took a lot of time but Reba made a comeback eventually. She even dedicated her 16th studio album “For My Broken Heart” to the band members and tour manager. All of the tracks within this album were inspired by the tragic plane crash and her feelings. This album explores themes of loss, grief, and resilience. Her career and personal life was deeply affected by the 1991 plane crash indeed.
FAQs
1. When did the plane crash take place?
1:45 AM on March 16, 1991
2. Who caused the Reba McEntire plane crash?
The pilots and the FAA officials were declared to be at fault.
3. Why was Reba McEntire devastated after the plane crash?
It was because she lost her 7 band members and the tour manager named Jim Hammon.
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