The Life of Beloved Star Ricky Nelson and His Tragic Demise

The National Transportation Safety Board found no evidence that cocaine freebasing caused the fire. Investigators traced the fire to the rear cabin area near the aircraft’s heater, but they could not conclusively determine either the exact ignition source or what material first fueled the flames.

The finding undermined the sensational story that had surrounded Rick’s death, although it did not prove precisely how the fire began. His music soon returned to the center of the conversation. In 1987, Rick was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, beginning a broader reassessment of what his career had meant.