"Thomas Borchert" wrote in message
...
John Denver was a very experienced pilot who goofed
flying an unfamiliar aircraft.

John Denver was not a certificated pilot at the time of his crash,
IIRC. Let alone an experienced one.

You recall incorrectly. From the NTSB report, Denver had nearly 3000 hours
of flight time at the time of his fatal accident, holding a Private Pilot
certificate with airplane ratings for single- and multi-engine land,
single-engine sea, and gliders, as well as a Lear Jet type rating and an
instrument airplane rating.

I'm not sure what you consider "a certificated pilot" or "an experienced
one", but I'd say by most standards he was both.

Pete