Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This video is sponsored by Brooklyn Bedding — visit brooklynbedding.com/TakingOff to get 30% off your order with code TakingOFF.
On August 26th, 1990, a helicopter carrying blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan crashed into a fog-covered hillside in East Troy, Wisconsin, killing all five people aboard. The NTSB found no mechanical failure — just a pilot flying without a helicopter instrument rating on a night when visibility collapsed within minutes of liftoff. We go through the final report and talk with helicopter instructor Randy Rowles about how it happened, and about the brother who gave up his seat on that flight.
Special thanks to Randy Rowles and the Helicopter Institute for his expertise on this one — check them out at helicopterinstitute.com/.
— PARTNERS & SPONSORS —
▸ For business inquiries → takingoff@outloudtalent.com
▸ Serendipitous Films – Need a video for your company? → sales@s-films.com
▸ AEROVERSE – Use code TakingOff for 15% off! → aeroverse.com
▸ FlyingEyes Optics – Get 10% off pilot glasses → flyingeyesoptics.com/pages/taking-offs-discount
▸ Colten Mortgage – Residential mortgage & refi, run by a pilot! → coltenmortgage.com/takingoff
▸ XeVision – Extreme LED Landing Lights. The only competitor is the sun! → xevision.com (xevision.com/)
▸ Clemens Insurance – Your broker should be fighting for you. Call Clemens! → clemensinsurance.net
▸ Marshal Protective Services – Private Security Elevated! → mpsprotects.com
▸ METAR Maps – The large METAR map on our set! Mention TakingOff when you order → metarmaps.com
▸ Lightspeed Headsets – Support us by buying through our link → lightspeedaviation.com/?ref=13
Photo Credit Line
"Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble Played the Ritz Theater in Austin, Texas on March 18th & 19th 1983 (modified)" by Bbadventure, sourced from Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).
"Signed Stevie Ray Vaughan reproduction guitar #01" by Monkeyleg, sourced from Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).
This video is sponsored by Brooklyn Bedding — visit brooklynbedding.com/TakingOff to get 30% off your order with code TakingOFF.
On August 26th, 1990, a helicopter carrying blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan crashed into a fog-covered hillside in East Troy, Wisconsin, killing all five people aboard. The NTSB found no mechanical failure — just a pilot flying without a helicopter instrument rating on a night when visibility collapsed within minutes of liftoff. We go through the final report and talk with helicopter instructor Randy Rowles about how it happened, and about the brother who gave up his seat on that flight.
Special thanks to Randy Rowles and the Helicopter Institute for his expertise on this one — check them out at helicopterinstitute.com/.
— PARTNERS & SPONSORS —
▸ For business inquiries → takingoff@outloudtalent.com
▸ Serendipitous Films – Need a video for your company? → sales@s-films.com
▸ AEROVERSE – Use code TakingOff for 15% off! → aeroverse.com
▸ FlyingEyes Optics – Get 10% off pilot glasses → flyingeyesoptics.com/pages/taking-offs-discount
▸ Colten Mortgage – Residential mortgage & refi, run by a pilot! → coltenmortgage.com/takingoff
▸ XeVision – Extreme LED Landing Lights. The only competitor is the sun! → xevision.com (xevision.com/)
▸ Clemens Insurance – Your broker should be fighting for you. Call Clemens! → clemensinsurance.net
▸ Marshal Protective Services – Private Security Elevated! → mpsprotects.com
▸ METAR Maps – The large METAR map on our set! Mention TakingOff when you order → metarmaps.com
▸ Lightspeed Headsets – Support us by buying through our link → lightspeedaviation.com/?ref=13
Photo Credit Line
"Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble Played the Ritz Theater in Austin, Texas on March 18th & 19th 1983 (modified)" by Bbadventure, sourced from Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).
"Signed Stevie Ray Vaughan reproduction guitar #01" by Monkeyleg, sourced from Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).
