Ronnie Van Zant, drunk and laying in the middle of the aisle, simply pulled himself together, sat up, and quietly chose a seat up front. He had already finished a film about the plane crash when Gary and several others stepped in and placed a lawsuit against the film to not be shown to the public. Dwain Easley still lives on the east side of the crash site. He was only 39, but was no rookie. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. All of the seats were ripped from the frame of the plane, landing in the front section of the crash. Throughout the ordeal, he remembers seeing the debris and suitcases scattered around, but he didn't think anything of it. Powells nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. Its many hit songs include "Freebird," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps" and "Simple Man.". Cassie joined the team and became one of the three members of The Honkette's, a female gospel vocal trio of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The site is hard to access. We always wondered why, you know. The surviving members would grapple with this throughout their days. On hearing of the accident, Billingsley was so shaken that some of her hair fell out. Steven Earl Gaines (September 14, 1949 - October 20, 1977) was an American musician. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. "The first thing I saw was a bloody hand reaching out from the debris. Ultimate Classic Rock What Happened to the Survivors of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash? His luck, however, was on the short end of the stick as he would have his throat slit while on the Lynyrd Skynyrd tour bus in the early 90s. I worked the scene for about 30 minutes before a veteran photographer approached me and asked if I knew where the local paper "The Enterprise Journal" was located. Deceased people hanging from trees, the other survivors moaning for help of any kind, and completely surrounded by a black swamp whose canopy is blocking the only light that is trying so desperately to shine through. It would be another hour before I heard the big news. "It was the saddest thing," she recalls, 11 years later. "I've been coming for years," he said, "and I've never met anyone who was here that night. Posted and no trespassing signs are prominently displayed. The pilots would have to make an emergency landing. I had never seen anything like it before. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. With a newly-released album, "Street Survivors," they were flying from a concert in Greenville, S.C. to the next night's show at LSU in Baton Rouge in a substandard charter plane. When the news broke that it was Lynyrd Skynyrd's tour plane, Nancy and I stared at each other. Martin said she then, "called 911, or 0, or whatever we called back then.". The reason is that just a few short days before some of the band members had reported seeing sparks a large as 10ft shooting out of the right engine. Billy had taken too long on his intro to the song Free Bird and that didnt set well with Ronnie. After I led him to the downtown McComb offices, I returned home, developed my film in a clumsy bathroom darkroom and went to sleep. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause of this accident was fuel exhaustion and total loss of power from both engines due to crew inattention to the fuel supply. He, like me, was 21-years-old at the time. TBS - Movies for Guys Who Like Movies Bumper - The Jerk - 1996, TBS - Dinner & A Movie - Urban Cowboy Promo - 1995, TBS - Movies for Guys Who Like Movies - Running Scared Promo - 1995. What happened to the Menendez brothers' money? Photo: hu.wikipedia.com. Wilkeson suffered severe internal injuries, including a punctured lung, and had most of his teeth knocked out. Wilkeson cheated death in 1977, surviving a crash of the band's chartered plane. Cause of death: Car accident. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Suffocating the people on the bottom from the sheer weight. At the time of her death, she was 29 years old. The Vintage News Aerosmith Said No, Lynyrd Skynyrd Said Yes To The Plane. He pulled the lifeless body of Cassie Gaines up by her belt. He drove down from his home in Oakland, Miss. Lewis was on emergency room call that night at McComb's Southwest Regional Medical Center. Was there a guest book?". The band got its name as a way of mocking Leonard Skinner, a gym coach at Robert E. Lee High School known for punishing his long-haired students specifically band co-founders Gary Rossington and Bob Burns. Their lyrics were raw and fresh - honest and simple. The singer died in the arms of the surviving band's keyboardist Billy Powell. Rudge chartered three planes for loved ones to identify the bodies. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. ", "I never cared about flying in an airplane," he said. As we talked, we heard a racket through the trees. Skip to main content. Artimus Pyle once said they were flying in a plane that he believed belonged to the Clampett family (they were the family from the Beverly Hillbillies, a family notorious for using pieced together equipment.). The plane finally slammed into the earth, and Billy Powell recalls saying, We hit the trees at approximately 90 mph. The band has been on tour, and dates through the weekend have been cancelled. We knew every word. It was Steve, and me, and Ronnie and I was in the middle of them. The crash killed singer/songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist/vocalist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray. The album cover depicted the band members in an alleyway covered in flames. Gene Odom had been thrown from the plane and broke his neck, his skin badly burned and one eye blinded by phosphorus from a de-icing flare that had been aboard. I couldn't stand it. Lynyrd Skynyrd was known for their hard-rocking style, driven by powerful guitars. He then assembled a convoy of trucks and four-wheelers to locate the crash site and rescue the survivors. Lynyrd Skynyrd is a staple on rock, classic rock, and southern radio stations. So on the prow of this small boat, plowing the coastal water on the other side of the world, he and I abandoned inhibition with an unabashed air guitar jam. A medical examiner said on Sunday that Wilkeson suffered from chronic liver and lung disease, and most likely died of natural causes. According to a Billboard report, he died of natural causes in his sleep. Both brother and sister were killed in the airplane crash that also took the life of Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist Ronnie Van Zant. All of the seats were ripped from the frame of the plane, landing in the front section of the crash. 1 on iTunes Charts, 36 songs, no apologies: Morgan Wallen delivers more (much more) of what made him countrys king, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Winter storms ease drought conditions in California, report shows, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Best coffee city in the world? "We didn't know how much gas was on the ground. "You like Lynyrd Skynyrd?" Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. Both Steve and Cassie Gaines were killed in the crash. Artimus Pyle and Gary Rossington are the only two members alive today from the crash. The talented singer met her death at the young age of 29. What injuries did Cassie Gaines die from? Street Survivors was released just three days before the crash and would quickly become a hit. Band confidant, Gene Odum, is privately interviewed to share his story on what happened on this awful day in history. He hopes to publish in time for the 40th anniversary of the crash. It is a cautionary song about drug abuse that fans believed was aimed at one of the members. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Apparently, Artimus had been quoted saying that Ronnie got up, went to the back of the plane and gave him a hippy handshake but Gene was quite persistent on the fact that it was complete bull. Over the ridge, a World War II vintage Willis Jeep crawled down a dusty logging trail. On another occasion, while reportedly on a drunken rage, he even slashed the hands of Gary Rossington, his best friend and guitarist, with a broken beer bottle. Collect, curate and comment on your files. One such silent witness has found a way to talk. Home; Memorials; Cemeteries; Famous; Contribute; Register; Sign In; Register; Sign In; . But there wasn't any gas on the ground because they ran out of gas.". I've not looked at them since. When the group asked Ronnies father how he was, he simply replied Hes fine. she asked me as we talked. She was born on 9th January 1948 in Missouri, USA. Easley knows he wasn't the first on the site, but he was there early. Members of the band that survived the crash said that Cassie actually . Billy Powell would be in the new starting line-up of Lynyrd Skynyrd until his death in 2009. I grabbed my camera and jumped in the car. Minutes later he was guiding an ambulance through an overgrown trail. The plane killed three band members (Ronnie Van Zant, Cassie, Steve Gaines) and Dean Kilpatrick (assistant road manager), Walter McCreary (pilot), and William Gray (co-pilot). He had hunted squirrels along that very ridge. The band would be marked for strife as just before their inaugural tour, Allens wife would bleed to death due to a miscarriage. "Seems like everyone is writing a book. The band buckled in. She is famous for starring in Saved by the Bell: The New Class, Goode Behavior, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Allen Collins suffered two cracked vertebrae in his neck, and both Collins and Leon Wilkeson nearly had arms amputated as a result of crash injuries. In 1986, his car ran off a road and crashed into a culvert, paralyzing him from the waist down and killing his girlfriend. Losing daylight, the pilots desperately looked for an open field or some kind of saving grace. Three crew members died in a plane crash just three days after the release of their 5th album. In addition to his fractured ribcage, Artimus Pyle was treated for numerous abrasions and contusions. According to the bands autobiography, Zunk Buker, Aerosmiths chief of flight operations manager, was inspecting the plane and the crew before they pulled the trigger. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. As he looked around the scene, his mind went back. In this video you will see the true story behind the tragic passing of Ronnie Van Zant, Cassie Gaines, Dean Kilpatrick, and Steve Gaines on October 20, 1977. For members Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, the weight of what happened seemed to push down on them the most. read another typical message of mourning. The pilots were still in their seats, but were laying upside down in nearby trees. 137.184.228.194 In 1977, lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Stevie Gaines and Gaines sister, Cassie Gaines, were killed in a plane crash. Gene Odom, Lynyrd Skynyrds bodyguard, recalls: They took my watch, my wallet, my ring, and my money as I lay bleeding on the ground. Collins began his rise to success as the lightning-fingered guitarist for the Jacksonville band formed in 1966 by a group of high school students. The whole scene tore him apart. I put them all to work. "He (Mote) ran in the door saying, 'Ya'll get down on the floor, there's escaped convicts out there," Martin remembers. I admired his ability to tell gripping stories with his camera, so I began considering a career change. The band had just released their biggest album to date and was riding off of a good high. I was just taken aback by it " but then his friend continued, "don't worry, Lynyrd made it out.". With that cue, Governor took the honors and introduced everyone as Gabel's mouth gaped in disbelief. Updated cover after plane crash, 1977The official NTSB accident report reads, "The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of this accident was fuel exhaustion and total loss of power from both engines due to crew inattention to fuel supply. Musician. Over the weekend, the message boards on the official Web site were flooded with messages of lament for the "living legend," "free bird," and simple man.". As we walked through the woods, Governor and I agree that nothing looked or felt the same. After the death of three of their members, the band decided to change the cover photo of the album, which initially featured a picture of the band engulfed in flames. Photo: Pinterest. Lynyrd Skynyrd disbanded after the airplane tragedy. Marc Frank recalled hearing both engines on the plane then within a matter of minutes, just air passing over the cabin. How did Cassie Gaines get in Lynyrd Skynyrd? The choppers belonged to the Coast Guard, National Guard and Forrest County General Hospital, who were doing their best to ferry people in, and illuminate the crash site. Lynyrd Skynyrd is no doubt an American staple in music and southern rock culture. "Sweet Home Alabama" became the southern anthem for millions. As the Houston Press reports, the crash took Van Zant's life, as well as the lives of band member Steve Gaines and his sister, backup singer Cassie; and Dean Kilpatrick, the assistant road manager. The cover would quickly be changed to a more bland blacked-out background with the band in the same pose after the accident. You have permission to edit this article. Security manager Gene Odom was seriously burned on his arm and face and lost the sight in one eye as a result of an emergency flare on board the plane that was activated during the crash. Mote fired a warning shot in the air. Especially with the song That Smell. Artimus has had many ups and downs since then, several incarcerations, and a huge falling out with Gary. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. The rest of the group had no idea at the time that they would never see the face of Ronnie again. Rossington recalls saying It was always weird for Allen and me because we were up front in the plane. Drummer Artimus Pyle crawled out of the plane wreckage with several broken ribs, but was ambulatory, as were road crew members Kenneth Peden Jr. and Mark Frank. Everyone on the flight, except for Ronnie Van Zant, was feeling uneasy and restless. The will to carry on was strong, however, Pyle being a US Marine, would live out the phrase Semper Fidelis which means always faithful. Part of the preparations required contacting landowners and securing permission to be there and a guide to lead me in. For many years, a dozen red roses have been carefully placed around the base, much like the mysterious unfinished bottle of Martell cognac at the grave of Edgar Allen Poe in Baltimore. Mote recalls the first thing he saw was a bloody hand sticking out from the wreckage. Mote was putting out square bales of hay for the cattle when he heard what sounded "like a car crash on a gravel road." "They seemed to be chasing him, trying to flag him down. As the small band of brothers grew, the conversation grew lively but stayed reverent. For members Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, the weight of what happened seemed to push down on them the most. I was not there to be a gawker or to get in the way. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. ", Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. A towering beech tree stands sentinel on the west side of the creek, carefully carved with scores of knurled epithets. The 22-year-old had been outside bailing hay in the twilight when he heard the crash in the distance, which he assumed was a car skidding in gravel. But after seeing helicopter searchlights, he started to assume it was a jailbreak instead. There is some speculation as to why the second engine had ultimately failed. I told him that it was the strongest thing I had seen a man do.. Sang background vocals (one of the Honkettes) for Lynyrd Skynyrd. He also knew I had no business there, but his face told me he knew I was beginning a new career that night. The choppers belonged to the Coast Guard, National Guard and Forrest County General Hospital, who were doing their best to ferry people in, and illuminate the crash site. "Why, yes I do," I said, thinking about my roots, my old buddies and the high school dances. The album would reach gold in ten days after release and it would eventually go double platinum. Band members Artimus Pyle and Billy Powell entered the cockpit to get an idea of what was happening. There is some speculation as to why the second engine had ultimately failed. We were shocked, as were most others hearing the news. The plane was produced from 1947-1954. He remembered seeing bodies everywhere. Cassie Gaines was one of the band members who boarded the ill-fated flight. Photo: hu.wikipedia.com. She was sick and would meet up with the band in Arkansas to continue the tour. Small and cramped, it still felt better than lift-off of the Convair CV-240. Despite this faux pas, Powell has been on good terms with the remaining band members since the incident. Video of a barechested Pyle at the 1979 Volunteer Jam does not show evidence of a gunshot wound. He was a walking treasure trove of names, facts and figures. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. He rushed to his truck and headed in. A tragic scene no person would ever wish to see or soon forget. His wife, Lola, and my wife grew up together. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. I had a small studio, making a living mostly painting signs for local businesses. The years after the crash would be difficult in its own right for surviving members, most of which would experience tragedy and early death themselves. David Bowie Reveals His Favorite Songwriters, Michael Jacksons Daughter Release New Song, Fans Wants To Cancel Roger Waters Concerts, Ozzy Osbourne Give Update On Possible Touring, Why Keith Richards Was Jealous Of The Beatles, Dave Grohl Reveals His Favorite Paul McCartney Track. Gary Rossington, one of the bands guitar players, had suffered two broken arms, a broken leg, a punctured stomach and liver. . "Are you writing a book?" Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash site draws a pilgrimage. Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, along with backup singer Cassie Gaines (Steve's older sister), assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray died. She was brought up in Miami, Florida, alongside her brothers, Bob and Steve. Cassie Gaines mother was LaRue, while her father was Bud. I threw it in reverse and plowed into my mother-in-law's car. Pyle did confirm (from Pyle's interview on the The Howard Stern Show on Sirius Satellite Radio, Feb. 12, 2007) that Van Zant's cause of death was trauma to the head caused by equipment, such as Betamax tapes and Trinitrons, flying forward in the plane's cabin. A tragic scene no person would ever wish to see or soon forget. Other band members were injured, some very seriously. Cassie Gaines died on the 20 th of October, 1977 in a plane crash at Gillsburg, Mississippi when she was only 29 years old. She said her husband grabbed his .243 hunting rifle, ran out and fired a warning shot. Billy Powell, the bands keyboardist, received extensive facial lacerations and a broken right knee. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Everyone knows him as "Governor." She died from excessive bleeding as her throat had been cut from ear to ear. Natural causes were to blame. All the surrounding land is privately owned and prominently marked with "No Trespassing" signs. Headline from a local newspaper reporting the crash. Ronnie Van Zant enjoying a stog before a show. On another occasion, while reportedly on a drunken rage, he even slashed the hands of Gary Rossington, his best friend and guitarist, with a broken beer bottle. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Artimus Pyle was also notoriously outspoken against the plane and on several occasions would take buses to shows. Ultimate Classic Rock What Happened to the Survivors of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash? Photo credits Airplane-Pictures.net. It was Steve, and me, and Ronnie and I was in the middle of them. Pyle, Frank, and Peden were met with hostility when they finally came up to Mote. But soon, the helicopters that were heard and seen previously were on the scene. It is reported that the pilots whose eyes were full of terror, told them to go back to their seats and prepare for impact. He lifted one after another and shuffled them to others outside. Where Did We Find This Stuff? She was planning to join the tour in Little Rock on October 23, three days after the crash. "They'd busted bales of hay in the bed to soften the ride," he said. According to an interview in the book Freebirds, Billingsley had dreamed of the plane crash and begged Allen Collins by telephone not to continue using the Convair. She performed as a backup singer in popular hits such as One More Time and That Smell. He had already finished a film about the plane crash when Gary and several others stepped in and placed a lawsuit against the film to not be shown to the public. Natural causes were to blame. Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and singer Cassie Gaines were all killed in the crash, and the . Artimus has had many ups and downs since then, several incarcerations, and a huge falling out with Gary. The years after the crash would be difficult in its own right for surviving members, most of which would experience tragedy and early death themselves. ", "He came home covered in blood," said his wife, Lola. It felt like being hit with baseball bats in a steel garbage can with the lid on. He could see the circling helicopter from his back yard. There were 26 people on that fateful flight. All reality had been broken and none of the surviving members would ever be the same or view life the same again. I would like to think that only one grave robber was involved, but so many items were missing that I have to believe otherwise. It was as if they were back in Noahs time and all but a select few were stricken with greed of mankind and the chance to capitalize on an easy opportunity. Photo: Pinterest. A design that would most likely lead to the infamous crash. He had been impaled by a part of the fuselage and it pushed through his body and projected out of his back. His post noted that he and many others had made pilgrimages for years to the site to pay their respects. In 1995, while on assignment in Phunket Thailand for the Times-Picayune's series "Oceans of Trouble," I boarded a small fantail fishing boat on the edges of the Andaman Sea with writer John McQuaid to photograph the disappearing mangroves. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Circa 1975, Singers Cassie Gaines , Leslie Hawkins and Jo Jo Billingsley of the American rock group, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1970s. Birth Name: Cassie LaRue Gaines Occupation: Rock Singer Place Of Birth: Missouri Date Of Birth: January 9, 1948 Date Of Death: October 20, 1977 Cause Of Death: N/A Ethnicity: White Nationality: American Cassie Gaines was born on the 9th of January, 1948. Rescuers look over the wreckage of the 1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash. He could hear the people moaning, pleading for help. Ronnie Van Zant, drunk and laying in the middle of the aisle, simply pulled himself together, sat up, and quietly chose a seat up front. Totaled, decimated, and left for dead. The guys hit the dirt and yelling out with what they had left Hey! With the tree tops approaching fast and just eight miles short of the air strip, the plane was headed for a Mississippi swamp and nothing could be done to save them now. to gather a few more. He could hear the people moaning, pleading for help. Cassie Gaines, Steve Gainess sister who were both bound for death in the crash, would routinely ride on the equipment bus rather than the plane. The famous music band Lynyrd Skynyrd is considered to have one of the most gruesome band histories after losing several people in an aerial accident. These combinations of poorly built aircraft and less than acceptable crew quickly led to the dismissal of the band leasing out their services. Two of them were crew members, pilot Walter McReary and co-pilot William Gray, the rest were band members and roadies. Rock Musician. He was known as Papa Ronnie. Collins and other band members were severely injured. A Convair CV-240, similar to the one in the crash. Marc Frank remembers seeing complete and total despair. Van Zant himself "loathed flying," as Rolling Stone. . 5 album. I would like to think that only one grave robber was involved, but so many items were missing that I have to believe otherwise. It was as if they were back in Noahs time and all but a select few were stricken with greed of mankind and the chance to capitalize on an easy opportunity. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. The plane had completely disintegrated. As they, too, were succumbing to the sub-par standards of the plane and crew. Billy had taken too long on his intro to the song Free Bird and that didnt set well with Ronnie. Headline from a local newspaper reporting the crash. Varying accounts have Mote either firing a warning shot into the air or actually shooting Pyle in the shoulder no report is completely reliable. She was sick and would meet up with the band in Arkansas to continue the tour. The album had a very controversial cover when released. But sadly when he drank, which was quite often, his demeanor and character qualities changed drastically. When he was sober, he was a fair and kind person. "I knew she was gone. This year there were no red roses, but a freshly carved "R.J." stood out with red paint enhancement. It was known that the right engine's magneto a small power generator that provides spark and timing for the engine had been malfunctioning (Powell, among others, spoke of seeing flames shooting out of the right engine on a trip just prior to the accident), and that pilots McCreary and Gray had intended to repair the damaged part when the travelling party arrived in Baton Rouge.
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