<P> The CAB concluded that the accident was due to "the pilot's unwise decision to embark on a flight" that required instrument flying skills he had not proved to have . A contributing factor was Peterson's unfamiliarity with the old - style attitude gyroscope fitted on board the aircraft, which may have caused him to believe that he was climbing when he was in fact descending (an example of spatial disorientation). Another contributing factor was the "seriously inadequate" weather briefing provided to Peterson, which "failed to even mention adverse flying condition which should have been highlighted". </P> <P> On March 6, 2007, in Beaumont, Texas, Richardson's body was exhumed for reburial in a more fitting part of the local Forest Lawn cemetery . The musician's son, Jay Perry, took the opportunity to have his father's body re-examined to verify the original findings, and asked forensic anthropologist William M. Bass to carry out the procedure . Among the rumors surrounding the accident that this second examination sought to verify was that an accidental firearm discharge took place on board the aircraft and caused the crash, since two months after the event, a farmer had found at the crash site a . 22 (5.6 mm) pistol known to have belonged to Holly . Another rumor had Richardson surviving the initial impact and crawling out of the aircraft in search for help, prompted by the fact that his body was found farther from the wreckage than the other three . Bass and his team took several X-rays of Richardson's body and eventually concluded that the musician had indeed died instantly from extensive, non-survivable fractures to almost all of his bones; no traces of lead were found from any bullet . Coroner Smiley's original report was, therefore, confirmed . </P> <P> In March 2015, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) received a request to reopen the investigation into the accident . The request was made by L.J. Coon, a retired pilot from New England who felt that the conclusion of the 1959 investigation was inaccurate . Coon suspected a possible failure of the right ruddervator, or a problem with the fuel system, as well as a possible improper weight distribution . Coon also argued that Peterson may have tried to land the plane and that his efforts should be recognized . In April 2015, the NTSB declined the request, citing that the evidence presented by Coon was insufficient to merit the reconsideration of the original findings . </P> <P> Following the miscarriage suffered by Holly's wife and the circumstances in which she was informed of his death, a policy was later adopted by authorities not to disclose victims' names until after their families have been informed . </P>

Who died in the plane crash and has an airport named after him