Leesburg, FL Members Of Ozzy Osbourne's Group Killed In Plane, Mar 1982

AIRPLANE JOY RIDE FATAL FOR ROCK BAND MEMBERS.

Leesburg, Fla. (UPI) -- Three members of rock entertainer OZZY OSBOURNE'S tour group went joy riding in a light plane Friday and were killed when the craft crashed into a bus where OSBOURNE was sleeping and then into a house.
OSBOURNE and two other members of his group, also sleeping in the bus when the single-engine Apache's wing ripped through it, escaped injury.
Two other members of the entourage standing near the bus taking pictures of the plane as it buzzed the Red Baron Airport also escaped injury.
OSBOURNE and the other survivors went into seclusion at a motel and declined to talk to reporters.
Authorities identified the victims as RANDY RHOADS, 25, a guitarist; RACHEL YOUNGBLOOD, 58, the group's hairdresser and general aide; and tour bus driver ANDY AYCOCK, 36, who was flying the plane.
GAIL ROBERTS of Los Angeles, who represents the group, said he was told the tour bus was heading for Orlando when AYCOCK, a licensed pilot who owns land in the area, decided to take a spin.
He first took two members of the group for a ride, then landed and picked up RHOADS and MS. YOUNGBLOOD.
"The aircraft circled the airport three times, coming down and buzzing the field each time," said Lake County Sheriff's Capt. JIM BROWN. "The third time it struck a large bus, spun off through a tree, pinwheeled over upside down into a house and exploded into flames."
BROWN said the portion of the house struck by the plane was gutted by fire in the accident which occurred at about 10 a.m. JESSE HERNDON, 70, was in the house at the time of the accident but was not hurt.
Witnesses said the group had been on an all night trip from Knoxville, Tenn., and were on their way to Orlando, about 40 miles away.

The Chronicle Telegram Elyria Ohio 1982-03-20
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!