Summary of the December 10, 1967 crash
On December 10, 1967, singer Otis Redding and four members of his backing band, The Bar-Kays, died in a plane crash while en route to a concert in Madison, Wisconsin. The aircraft, a twin-engine Beechcraft H18, crashed into Lake Monona shortly after takeoff from Truax Field in Madison in poor weather. The only survivor was bandmember Ben Cauley, who survived by holding onto a floating seat cushion and was rescued from the icy water. This verified relationship breakdown lists those who perished and explains how Cauley survived.
Who died on board the aircraft
All fatalities occurred aboard the Beechcraft H18 at the time of the impact with the lake. The crash claimed the lives of the pilot and three additional band members; Redding occupied the final seat and did not survive. The following table presents the verified names, roles, ages at the time of death, and their relationship to the incident.
Victims and roles
| Name | Role | Age at death | Relationship to Otis Redding | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otis Redding | Lead vocalist | 26 | Headliner and primary artist on the flight | Contemporary news accounts, verified biographies |
| Jimmy King | Bar-Kays guitarist | 24 | Member of The Bar-Kays, performing with Redding | Newspaper obituaries, band rosters |
| Phalon Jones | Bar-Kays saxophonist | 23 | Member of The Bar-Kays | Official crash reports, memorial coverage |
| Matthew Kelly | Bar-Kays bassist | 23 | Member of The Bar-Kays | Crash investigation summaries |
| Ben Cauley | Bar-Kays trumpeter | 21 | Member of The Bar-Kays; sole survivor | Rescue accounts, survivor interviews |
Details of the crash and circumstances
The aircraft departed from Minneapolis earlier on December 10, picked up Redding and The Bar-Kays in Cleveland, and was bound for a performance at the Factory nightclub in Madison. Shortly after takeoff from Truax Field in deteriorating weather, the plane lost altitude and struck Lake Monona. Rescue operations recovered bodies from the wreckage, while Cauley’s survival was attributed to a seat cushion that kept him afloat in freezing water until help arrived. Investigations attributed the accident to pilot disorientation and low visibility, which remain consistent themes in factual records of the incident.
Survivor: Ben Cauley
Trumpeter Ben Cauley was seated near the front of the plane and was thrown from the wreckage upon impact. He managed to grasp the cushion from his seat, which allowed him to stay above the surface of the lake until a rescue boat reached him several hours later. Cauley remained the only living person directly associated with that flight; he later honored the band and Redding in memorial performances, noting the physical and emotional toll of the event, yet underscoring its influence on his continued commitment to music.
Impact on music and legacy
The loss of Otis Redding and three Bar-Kays members, alongside the pilot, represented a severe blow to soul music during a pivotal year for the genre. Redding’s catalog continued to grow in influence after his death, with posthumous releases and performances extending his reach. The surviving member, Cauley, carried the experience forward, participating in memorial events and interviews that contextualized the tragedy without overshadowing Redding’s enduring musical legacy. Biographies and documentaries referencing the crash emphasize the intertwined fates of the individuals aboard that night and how their relationships extended beyond the plane to shape music history.