1. JUST BY ACCIDENT
    Original Air Date:     February 28, 1975
    Synopsis. Demolition derby driver Billy Jo Hartman’s plans to retire from the field and move onto dirt racing are cut short when his car is pushed off a cliff by a man named Duane Bailey. Although the police classify the death as accidental, Billy Jo’s mother Louise (played by Neva Patterson) hires Rockford to investigate. 

    Guest star Neva Patterson previously co-starred with James Garner and Stuart Margolin in Nichols.
    “Just by Accident” was the last episode filmed for the first season. That, in turn, makes it the last episode of Rockford Files produced by Roy Huggins. We discuss the matter of Huggins’ departure from the series in our review of the second season.

    LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details.