<P> The flying service charged a fee of $36 per passenger for the flight on the 1947 single - engined, V - tailed Beechcraft 35 Bonanza (registration N3794N), which could seat three passengers plus the pilot . A popular misconception, originating from Don McLean's eponymous song about the crash, was that the plane was called American Pie . In fact, no record exists of any name ever having been given to N3794N . </P> <P> The most widely accepted version of events was that Richardson had contracted flu during the tour and asked Jennings for his seat on the plane . When Holly learned that Jennings was not going to fly, he said in jest: "Well, I hope your ol' bus freezes up ." Jennings responded: "Well, I hope your ol' plane crashes", a humorous but ill - fated response that haunted him for the rest of his life . Valens, who once had a fear of flying, asked Allsup for his seat on the plane . The two agreed to toss a coin to decide . Bob Hale, a disc jockey with Mason City's KRIB - AM, was working the concert that night and flipped the coin in the ballroom's side - stage room shortly before the musicians departed for the airport . Valens won the coin toss for the seat on the flight . </P> <P> In contradiction to the testimony of Allsup and Jennings, Dion has since said that Holly approached him along with Valens and Richardson to join the flight, not Holly's bandmates . In a 2009 interview, Dion claimed that Holly called him, Valens, and Richardson into a vacant dressing room during Sardo's performance and said "I've chartered a plane, we're the guys making the money (we should be the ones flying ahead)... the only problem is there are only two available seats ." According to Dion, it was Valens, not Richardson, who had fallen ill, so Valens and Dion flipped a coin for the seat . In his interview, no mention is made of Jennings or Allsup being invited on the plane . Dion claims that he won the toss, but ultimately decided that since the $36 fare (equivalent to US $300 in today's money) equaled the monthly rent his parents paid for his childhood apartment, he could not justify the indulgence . </P> <P> After the show ended, Anderson drove Holly, Valens, and Richardson to the Mason City Municipal Airport . The weather at the time of departure was reported as light snow, a ceiling of 3,000 feet (910 m) AMSL with sky obscured, visibility 6 miles (9,700 m), and winds from 20 to 30 mph (32 to 48 km / h). Although deteriorating weather was reported along the planned route, the weather briefings Peterson received failed to relay the information . </P>

Who has an airport named after them after dying in a plane crash