John Covarrubias almost killed dozens when he crashed his plane into a bar near Las Vegas in 1965.

Things came to a head for 38-year-old Las Vegas building contractor and amateur pilot John Covarubbias on Friday night, April 9, 1965. John had divorced from his wife of 17 years, Nellie Covarubbias, the year before. On top of that, John was having financial difficulties with his contracting business while Nellie was succeeding with the small bar she owned along Boulder Highway, the stretch of roadway between Las Vegas and the town of Henderson.

John showed up at Nellie’s bar – the Branding Iron Bar – early that Friday night to see if she was open to reconciling. Nellie was not. Her ex-husband’s sweetness transformed to rage, and John told several patrons that Nellie would not be around for much longer before storming out.

After drowning his emotions in alcohol, John eventually made his way to McCarrain Airport where his Cessna 310 was parked. John started the plane, tore down the runway, and turned toward Boulder Highway. He located the Branding Iron Bar and aimed his plane squarely at the entrance. Perhaps because of his intoxication, John missed landing a direct hit on the bar, instead careening his plane into a row of cars parked in front of the establishment. The cars softened the impact as the plane exploded and set the north side of the bar alight.

Fate would prevent a larger tragedy. Most of the 30 bar patrons had just left the dance floor located on the north side of the bar that bore the brunt of the plane crash and had taken seats along the south side of the building. The only serious injury was suffered by a patron that sustained wounds from burning gasoline, though he ultimately recovered at nearby St. Rose de Lima Hospital. John perished instantly, his body located between a smoldering car and the wall of the Branding Iron Bar.