50 years ago today RIP Jim Croce

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Natchitoches, La. — Pop singer-songwriter Jim Croce, 30, was killed September 20th when the single-engine plane in which he and five others were riding hit a tree on takeoff.

The other victims in the accident were Croce’s second guitarist, Maury Meuhleisen; road manager Morgan Tell; comedian George Stevens, a booking agent, and the pilot.

Croce had gained headliner status only recently, following his hit records, “Don’t Mess Around With Jim” and the current “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.” He was en route from a college concert at Northwestern State College, 75 miles southeast of Shreveport, to another in Sherman, Texas.

“It was a single-engine plane, I believe,” said deputy Walter Braxton. “It was taking off and it did not get any altitude.” The plane went past the runway, hit the tree, and spun around in the air before crashing.

Croce is survived by his wife Ingrid and their two-year-old son, Adrian.

Corb Donahue, a friend of Croce’s and an employee at his record company, ABC/Dunhill, described Croce as “simply one of the finest human beings I’ve ever met.” The sentiment was echoed by others who knew him.

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LINK

Article says September 20th but I've also seen it as the 19th. Apparentlyit was late at night, either just before or after 12.

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Adrian.

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used to be my across the street neighbor.

One of my frat brothers (interesting older guy, former Bandito member and Chemistry major) had a piece of the tail section in his apartment.

Isn't that the way they say it goes.

He went to Villanova and is buried 12 miles from where I used to live. Next time I am up that way I will go visit his grave and Schmedly Butler's grave.

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Had a cousin from Natchitoches that saw his last performance. Only 1,000 people were there according to the article:

Shreveport Times article with details:

LINK

There never seems to be enough time, to do the things you wanna do once you find ‘em

I remember that and was very sad to hear it.

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The pilot ran all the way down highway 1 to the airport and had a heart attack during takeoff.

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Story I heard was pilot error. Pilot decided to take off with a tail wind(perhaps because he was hurrying to take off), instead of turning around and taking off into the head wind.

Jim Croce died before i was born but I am still a fan of his.