Western United States
California & Washington
Bakersfield, California
The lead guitarist of rock star Ozzy Osbourne's band and two others were killed Friday when a plane in which they were buzzing a mansion slammed flaming into the home, deputies said. Guitarist Randall Rhoads, 25, pilot Andrew Aycock, 36, and Rachel Youngblood, 58, were killed in the 10:30 a.m. crash, Lake County Deputy Sheriff Mike Smalt said. He said the plane clipped a van and a tree before crashing into the two-story Colonial house. Osbourne, the former Black Sabbath lead singer, who in his 2-year-old solo career has become know for such outrageous stage antics as biting off the head of a live bat, was in the van when one of the plane's wings clipped it but escaped injury, Smalt said. Several other members of the group were in the two-story Colonial house, but fled before the structure was gutted by flaming gasoline. Rhoads, and Ms. Youngblood, the group's hairdresser and makeup artist, were from LosAngeles, Smalt said
Los Angeles, California
3.19.82 - The lead guitarist of hard rock star Ozzy Osbourne's band and two others were killed today when a plane in which they were buzzing a mansion slammed into the home, deputies said. Guitarist Randall Rhoads, 25, formerly of the Los Angeles-based group of Quiet Riot, pilot Andrew Aycock, 36, and Rachel Youngblood, 58, were killed in the 10:30 a.m. crash, Lake county Deputy Sheriff Mike Smalt said. He said that the plane clipped a van and a tree before crashing into the two-story colonial house. Osbourne, 33, was in the van when one of the plane's wings clipped it but escaped injury. The chunky former Black Sabbath lead singer in his two-year solo career has become known for such outrageous stage antics as biting off the head of a live bat. He was recently arrested for relieving himself on the walls of the Alamo. Several other members of the group were inside the home but fled before the structure was gutted by flaming gasoline. Rhoads and Youngblood, the group's hairdresser and makeup artist, were from Los Angeles, Smalt said. He said Aycock lived at Flying Baron Estates, the private airport community where the accident happened. The group was staying at the mansion before a concert that had been scheduled in Leesburg late today. Jack Barker, Atlanta regional spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said the aircraft was a Beechcraft Bonanza. He said the agency flew an investigator to the scene.
3.20.82 - A small plane crashed into a mansion and burst into flames Friday, killing the lead guitarist of rock singer Ozzy Osbourne's backup group and two other persons, police said. The plane twice buzzed the house, where the group was staying, officials said. On a third pass it clipped the group's tour bus and a tree and then slammed into the two-story Colonial home. The crash killed guitarist Randall Rhoads, 25; pilot Andrew Aycock, 36 and Rachel Youngblood, 58, the group's makeup artist and hairdresser, Lake County Deputy Sheriff Mike Smalt said. Osbourne - known for such stage antics as biting off the head of a live bat - was in the bus but was not hurt, Smalt said. Rhoads had been the guitarist in Quiet Riot, one of the most popular hard-rock bands on the Los Angeles club scene in the late 70's. The group was often a headlining, sell-out attraction at clubs such as the Whiskey and Starwood, but never was signed to a U.S. record deal.
San Diego, California
Members of the Ozzy Osbourne rock group, known for their bizarre on-stage antics, went into seclusion after one of their musicians and a staff person died when their private plane clipped the group's tour bus and crashed into a house, police said. Guitarist Randall Rhoads, 25, and Rachel Youngblood, 58, died immediately yesterday, authorities said. Pilot Andrew Aycock, 36, also was killed in the accident, authorities said. The occupant of house was not injured. Rhoads, of Burbank, was voted best new guitarist by the Guitar Player magazine and England's Best Heavy Metal Guitarist in 1981 by Sounds magazine. Osbourne, known for outrageous antics such as biting off the head of a bat, was sleeping in the bus when the plane's wing clipped it. He was not hurt, Lake County Deputy Sheriff Mike Smalt said.
A small plane crashed into a mansion and burst into flames yesterday, killing the lead guitarist of the Ozzy Osbourne rock group and two other people who were aboard, police said. The plane twice buzzed the house, where the rock group was staying, and on a third pass clipped the rock group’s tour bus and a tree, then slammed into the two-story colonial home, officials said. Killed were guitarist Randall Rhoads, 25, pilot Andrew Aycock, 36, and Rachel Youngblood, 58, the group's makeup artist and hairdresser, said Lake County Deputy Sheriff Mike Smalt. Osbourne - known for such stage antics as biting off the head of a live bat - was in the bus but was not hurt, Smalt said. Several other group members escaped unhurt from the mansion before it was gutted by flaming gasoline that spewed from the Beechcraft Bonanza, officials said. Rhoads and Youngblood were from Los Angeles, Smalt said. He said Aycock lived at Flying Baron Estates, the wealthy, private airport community about three miles east of Leesburg where the crash occurred. The group was staying at the mansion before a concert scheduled for Orlando on Saturday. Members of the group quickly left the crash site and it was not known whether they would perform. Jack Barker, Atlanta regional spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said the FAA flew an investigator to the scene yesterday. He said the National Transportation Safety Board also would investigate. The bus - outfitted with plush chairs, video games and a stereo system - was punctured by the wing of the aircraft.
San Francisco, California
A small plane crashed into a mansion here and burst into flames yesterday, killing the lead guitarist of the Ozzy Osbourne rock group and two other people, police said. The plane twice buzzed the house, where the rock group was staying, and on a third pass clipped the rock group’s tour bus and a tree, then slammed into the two-story colonial home, officials said. The crash killed guitarist Randall Rhoads, 25, the pilot of the Beechcraft Bonanza, Andrew Aycock, 36, and Rachel Youngblood, 58, the group's makeup artist and hairdresser, said Lake County Deputy Sheriff Mike Smalt. The plane's pilot was also the group's bus driver. Osbourne - known for such stage antics as biting off the head of a live bat - was in the bus but was not hurt, Smalt said. Several other group members escaped unhurt from the mansion before it was gutted by flaming gasoline that spewed from the plane, officials said. Rhoads and Ms. Youngblood were from Los Angeles, Smalt said. He said Aycock lived at Flying Baron Estates, the wealthy, private airport community about three miles east of Leesburg. The group was staying at the mansion before a concert scheduled for Orlando today. Members of the group quickly left the crash site and it was not known whether they would perform. Jack Barker, Atlanta regional spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said the FAA flew an investigator to the scene yesterday. He said the National Transportation Safety Board also would investigate. The bus - outfitted with plush chairs, video games and a stereo system - was punctured by the wing of the aircraft.
Seattle, Washington
A small plane crashed into a mansion and burst into flames yesterday, killing the lead guitarist of the Ozzy Osbourne rock group and two other people who were aboard, police said. The plane twice buzzed the house where the rock group was staying, and on a third pass, clipped the rock group’s tour bus and a tree, then slammed into the two-story colonial home, officials said. Killed were the guitarist Randall Rhoads, 25; pilot Andrew Aycock, 36, and Rachel Youngblood, 58, the group's makeup artist and hairdresser, Deputy Sheriff Mike Smalt said. Osbourne, known for such stage antics as biting off the head of a live bat, was in the bus but was not hurt, Smalt said. Several other group members escaped unhurt from the mansion before it was destroyed by a fire started by flaming gasoline.