John Denver was a beloved American singer whose music celebrated nature, peace, and simple living. On October 12, 1997, he took off in a small experimental aircraft for what became his final flight. A mechanical fuel problem caused the plane to crash into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, ending his life at just 53 years old. Only days earlier, Denver had appeared on television performing a medley that included This Old Guitar, a moment many fans later felt sounded like a quiet good