The Tragic Flight
Despite his growing fame, Ricky Nelson had a deep-seated fear of flying. His career required frequent travel, and he even sought psychotherapy to help him cope with his anxiety. His fear of flying might have been a reason why, in a fateful decision, he chose not to have his twin sons, Gunnar and Matthew, accompany him on a flight to Dallas for a New Year’s Eve performance. This decision proved life-saving.
Gunnar later recalled how their father had called them just days before the trip to cancel their plans of flying together, citing an inexplicable bad feeling. There had been reports of engine trouble on the DC-3 plane he was set to fly on, which could have contributed to Ricky’s concerns.
Unfortunately, Ricky boarded the plane alone in Alabama, and as it approached its destination in Texas, a fire broke out in the cabin. While the pilot managed to land the plane, the fire claimed the lives of Ricky, his fiancée Helen Blair, and five other passengers. The exact cause of the fire remains a mystery to this day. Some speculated it was due to drug use, but those close to Ricky, including his brother David and his daughter Tracy, refuted these claims, suggesting it was more likely a mechanical issue related to the plane’s gasoline heater—a known problem for that model.
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