27th Aug 1990, Stevie Ray Vaughan was killed when the helicopter he was flying in, hit a man-made ski slope while trying to navigate through dense fog. Vaughan had played a show at Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, Wisconsin with Robert Cray & His Memphis Horns, and Eric Clapton. Vaughan was informed by a member of Clapton's crew that three seats were open on a helicopter returning to Chicago with Clapton's crew, it turned out there was only one seat left; Vaughan requested it from his brother, who obliged. Three members of Eric Clapton's entourage were also killed. Full story here: http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/pages/stevie_ray_vau...
I remember listening to the radio when that news came across...we had a lot of exposure to SRV since he had the Texas roots, and it seemed like a much bigger story in Texas at the time than elsewhere. The similarities to the Richie Valens accident were quite eerie, especially when you consider the 'swapping out' of seating.
I lived at Alpine Valley!! Well not literally, but I can't tell you how many bands I've seen there. I totally remember this.