We always wondered why, you know. The surviving members would grapple with this throughout their days. Some blame it on the planes age and poor design, weighing in on its smaller fuselage and compact wingspan. Mote hopped into his pick-up to get back to his house, told his wife to get back in the house, then proceeded to grab his gun and stand guard. Van Zant died instantly of blunt force trauma to the head. It Crashed, Killing 3 Members, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Drinking, Fighting, Hell-Raising: The Classic Skynyrd Lineup In Pittsburgh, Associate Press Mississippi Road Signs For Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash Site, Hollywood Reporter Appeals Court Reverses Ban on Lynyrd Skynyrd Movie, Ronnie Van Zant Of Lynyrd Skynyrd Predicted His Own Death, Groove History, 1977 Missippi Convair CV-240 Plane Crash, Wikipedia, History Collection The Deadliest Plane Crash in Canada Killed 248 Soldiers in 1985, History Collection A Plane Crashed into the Empire State Building (1945). The accident essentially destroyed one of the unique voices of American rock and roll. Rossington recalls saying It was always weird for Allen and me because we were up front in the plane. Thats when most of the sober members of the band saw that the right propeller was no longer working. The cockpit, tail, and wings completely ripped apart and the remaining cab lay desolate, in the shape of an L. The plane was simply not built well enough to even remotely handle the impact from the pine trees at roughly 90 mph. At the beginning of the flight, all was well, amid high tensions. But as my wife and I watched the news bulletins flash on TV, it was a big deal. On October 20, 1977, they would board a flight bound for Louisiana that would crash in Gillsberg, Missippi and claim the lives of band members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, along with Pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray. I had never seen anything like it before. Skip to main content. He suffered a heart attack . Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. The official cause of death will be announced after toxicology test results come back in two to three weeks. It was there where he was found dead in his room on July 27. Photo credits Airplane-Pictures.net. On several occasions, the latter shined through. Gabel says he's been to the site 15 or more times. The rest of the group had no idea at the time that they would never see the face of Ronnie again. Bianca is a force to be reckoned with in the American film industry. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Cassie Gaines Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements The Last Flight of Lynyrd Skynyrd It Was the Day the Music Died Lead vocalist and founding member of the southern rock band, Ronnie Van Zant, also lost his life in the accident. Three crew members died in a plane crash just three days after the release of their 5th album. 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 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). Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. Billy Powell, the bands keyboardist, received extensive facial lacerations and a broken right knee. My college roommate was a young photojournalist. 10 Details About the Fatal Plane Crash that Was the Death of Lynyrd "May the free bird fly on," read one message. Pyle used the couple's phone to call his wife. After claiming his deceased son, Lacy Van Zant went to visit the other members of the band at the hospital. Owners emphasize that trespassers can be prosecuted. Ronnie had died instantly upon impact, his head slamming into a tree. One such silent witness has found a way to talk. Cassie Gaines: Southern Rock's Honkette | Rocks Off Mag While the site is duly remembered, it is on private property and is not open to the public. "Sweet Home Alabama" became the southern anthem for millions. Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash site draws a pilgrimage Photo: hu.wikipedia.com. As the small band of brothers grew, the conversation grew lively but stayed reverent. There have been several different theories as to the culprits of this . Especially with the song That Smell. As soon as it seemed that the worst of the flight was passing, the true nightmare was about to set in for Lynyrd Skynyrd and the crew aboard. 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. Identification was completely hindered as there had been a poker game going on during the flight, and everyones wallets and purses had been strewn throughout the swamp. When the group asked Ronnies father how he was, he simply replied Hes fine. memorial page for Cassie LaRue Hatfield Gaines (26 Nov 1926-15 Feb 1979), Find a Grave Memorial ID 37010431, citing Jacksonville Memory . On the original pressing of the cover of Street Survivors was a photograph of the band engulfed in flames. His first impression was, "What is a bunch of hippies doing on an airplane? I'm really not sure anymore," he said. Powells nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. He claims that Artimus Pyle, drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, survived scathe-less and crawled into the bushes watching Ronnie and the others die in this horrid fiery crash. Rescue vehicles on the ground found no direct path in sight. The whole scene tore him apart. 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. The aircraft crashed in a heavily wooded area during an attempted emergency landing. "He didn't want to talk about it for years.". Van Zant himself "loathed flying," as Rolling Stone. Rudge chartered three planes for loved ones to identify the bodies. Lynyrd Skynyd: The NTSB Report - Angelfire As we walked through the woods, Governor and I agree that nothing looked or felt the same. 5 album. Lynyrd Skynyrd pose for a portrait circa 1976. Gene Odom, Lynyrd Skynyrds bodyguard, recalls: They took my watch, my wallet, my ring, and my money as I lay bleeding on the ground. He lifted one after another and shuffled them to others outside. Cassie Gaines mother was LaRue, while her father was Bud. Tragic Details Found In Leon Wilkeson's Autopsy Report - Grunge.com According to Powell, Cassie Gaines' final moments were particularly painful as she bled to death in his arms and that her throat had been cut from ear to ear, which gave more indications of execution than an accident. 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. 1977 Plane Crash | Lynyrd Skynyrd | Fandom I used my camera in my work. Band confidant, Gene Odum, is privately interviewed to share his story on what happened on this awful day in history. You have permission to edit this article. Billy had taken too long on his intro to the song Free Bird and that didnt set well with Ronnie. He was best known for being a Rock Singer. It Crashed, Killing 3 Members, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Drinking, Fighting, Hell-Raising: The Classic Skynyrd Lineup In Pittsburgh, Associate Press Mississippi Road Signs For Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash Site, Hollywood Reporter Appeals Court Reverses Ban on Lynyrd Skynyrd Movie, Ronnie Van Zant Of Lynyrd Skynyrd Predicted His Own Death, Groove History, 1977 Missippi Convair CV-240 Plane Crash, Wikipedia, History Collection The Deadliest Plane Crash in Canada Killed 248 Soldiers in 1985, History Collection A Plane Crashed into the Empire State Building (1945). 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. The location sounded familiar so he asked them to repeat. I put them all to work. Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed in 1987, and has been touring and recording steadily ever since with Johnny Van Zant, brother of the late Ronnie, as lead singer. Posted and no trespassing signs are prominently displayed. They were directing him to the property next to his family's farm. Small and cramped, it still felt better than lift-off of the Convair CV-240. A tragic scene no person would ever wish to see or soon forget. Rock Musician. 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. 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. A Convair CV-240, similar to the one in the crash. The plane had completely disintegrated. Tremendous physical pain overwhelmed the group as did mental exhaustion. Rossington and keyboardist Billy Powell are now the only founding members in the band. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Daisy Jones & the Six becomes the first fictional band to hit No. With my camera at the ready, the translator and I stood watch on the prow of the brightly colored wooden boat as we plowed the exotic coastline. Buker had noticed the flight crew passing around liquor bottles while aboard the plane. 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. Rescuers look over the wreckage of the 1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash. The tragic story of Lynyrd Skynyrd members death - Rock And Roll Garage Gene Odom, Lynyrd Skynyrds bodyguard, recalls: They took my watch, my wallet, my ring, and my money as I lay bleeding on the ground. I knew I had no business going, and my wife told me so. 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. "Why, yes I do," I said, thinking about my roots, my old buddies and the high school dances. At the beginning of the flight, all was well, amid high tensions. When he was sober, he was a fair and kind person. I marked my calendar and made arrangements. It would take hours to remove the bodies of the dead and injured from the plane. Here are 10 facts about Lynyrd Skynyrd and their fateful end. The single "What's Your Name" reached #13 on the single airplay charts in January of 1978. Steven Earl Gaines (September 14, 1949 - October 20, 1977) was an American musician. I'm from southern Thailand. Toxicology tests were also ordered to determine whether there were drugs in his system at the time. He had been impaled by a part of the fuselage and it pushed through his body and projected out of his back. Ronnie Van Zant enjoying a stog before a show. Dean Kilpatrick, the bands manager, lay dead and covered in blood. Several members of the band died in a plane crash that occurred on October 20, 1977, three days after the release of Street Survivors. One band member, JoJo Billingsly, was not on the flight. The album would reach gold in ten days after release and it would eventually go double platinum. Ultimate Classic Rock What Happened to the Survivors of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash? In the beginning, the singer was reluctant to board the aircraft and had already bought another commercial flight ticket. How did Cassie Gaines of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd die? - Yen Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. Photo: Pinterest. It is reported that the pilots whose eyes were full of terror, told them to go back to their seats and prepare for impact. As the three marched on, feet soaking wet from the water, all odds seemed stacked against the trio. Photo: Uncle Johns Bathroom Reader. Powell's nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. Tangled by underbrush and the 20-foot creek, the rescue team had to act and think fast. Natural causes were to blame. The events before the plane crash are perhaps the most bone-chilling ones you'd ever hear. There is some speculation as to why the second engine had ultimately failed. 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. Ronnies mother Marion refused to make the flight, after seeing a horrific plane crash of her own that killed 9 people. to gather a few more. Four of the passengers were killed including bandleader and lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines and assistant tour manager Dean Kilpatrick. Mote fired a warning shot in the air. Mother of Lynyrd Skynyrd members Cassie Gaines and Steve Gaines. 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. It was going to be the replacement for Douglas C3s with a pressurized cabin that was then just being mandated as a rule for commercial airlines. The fuselage turned sideways, and everybody was hurled forward.. Easley knows he wasn't the first on the site, but he was there early. On 20th October 1977, the Lynyrd Skynyrd boarded a chartered Convair CV-240 to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after their performance in Greenville, South Carolina. 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. Lynyrd Skynyrd Bassist Wilkeson Found Dead - ABC News At this point, for Artimus Pyle, Marc Frank, and Ken Peden, the only sensible thing left to do was to leave certain death at the crash site, for uncertainty in the swamp. Dwain Easley still lives on the east side of the crash site. Although Steven Tyler and Joe Perry had insisted that they charter the plane, ultimately it was not signed to the band. From left to right: Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant, And Gary Rossington. Cassie Larue Gaines was an American singer. 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. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. Losing daylight, the pilots desperately looked for an open field or some kind of saving grace. I admired his ability to tell gripping stories with his camera, so I began considering a career change. 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. "Seems like everyone is writing a book. Photo: thetv.info. 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. The plane finally slammed into the earth, and Billy Powell recalls saying, We hit the trees at approximately 90 mph. It would also be the first album that guitarist Steve Gaines would be the sole guitar player on. We had to cross a black water slew," he said. 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. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Skynyrd Crash Survivor Allen Collins Dies, 37 - Los Angeles Times Before joining the music band, she was an original cast member of a school play under Hairspray. ", "He came home covered in blood," said his wife, Lola. She was born on 9th January 1948 in Missouri, USA. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. On several occasions, the latter shined through. That farm belonged to a young dairy farmer named Johnny Mote. Cassie Gaines was born on January 9, 1948 and died on October 20, 1977. Collins and other band members were severely injured. I grabbed my camera and jumped in the car. Pyle, Frank, and Peden were met with hostility when they finally came up to Mote. I had a small studio, making a living mostly painting signs for local businesses. You all just better get some rest. Dan Barnes recalls saying This man had just been to the funeral home and seen his son dead and decided to keep that to himself for these guys to heal. As the three marched on, feet soaking wet from the water, all odds seemed stacked against the trio. 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. McDaniel was eager to join me. Sooner Guitarist's Music Lives On Even in Death - The Oklahoman In 1975, his sister, Cassie, whose group had been hired to sing back. As the bulletins continued, they became more descriptive: "Tractors were pulling ambulances across a creek" was one exaggerated quote I remember so well. Cassie was 29 years old at the time of death. Things were going so well. A medical examiner said on Sunday that Wilkeson suffered from chronic liver and lung disease, and most likely died of natural causes. But one thing I'm proud of. The band has sold an estimated 35 million records. However, other band members convinced her otherwise. I'm still not sure why. Thats when most of the sober members of the band saw that the right propeller was no longer working. Mote hopped into his pick-up to get back to his house, told his wife to get back in the house, then proceeded to grab his gun and stand guard. Collins recovered and began performing again, eventually forming the Allen Collins Band. The reason behind this? Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. His only help at that moment was his neighbor, Dwain Easley. He was known as Papa Ronnie. Lynyrd Skynyrd disbanded after the airplane tragedy. Cassie Gaines was a talented and committed backup singer for the Lynard Skynyrd music band until she died in a plane crash. Cassie Gaines, a member of the backing vocal trio known as the Honkettes and sister of guitarist Steve Gaines, was so petrified that she nearly squeezed in the band's cramped equipment truck. But we were both enjoying it. 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. It was rumored that it was Ed Kings (original guitar player for Lynyrd Skynyrd) wife but it was not confirmed. 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. As we talked, we heard a racket through the trees. 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. Also Known As: Cassie LaRue Gaines Died At Age: 29 Family: mother: Cassie LaRue Gaines Died Young Rock Singers Died on: October 20, 1977 place of death: Gillsburg, Mississippi, United States U.S. State: Oklahoma Cause of Death: Plane Crash Recommended Lists: American Celebrities Film & Theater Personalities American Women Women Singers 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. It was the last flight of Lynyrd Skynyrd: Oct. 20, 1977, the night they . Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. [2] Artimus Pyle and Gary Rossington are the only two members alive today from the crash. The pilot and co-pilot also died; 20 others aboard lived. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. 10 Details About the Fatal Plane Crash that Was the Death of Lynyrd 10 Details About the Fatal Plane Crash that Was the Death of Lynyrd Get the news that matters from one of the leading news sites in Ghana, UN development chief sounds alarm over debt distress, Texas: Wind and solar stake claim to land of oil, Couple loses GH 300,000 on their wedding after guests don't show up: "So heartbroken", "Rest Well": Thomas Partey pays tribute to Christian Atsu as she scores in Arsenal's 3-2 win over Bournemouth, Hard guy dey cry: Sulley Muntari sheds tears at Christian Atsu's 1-week observance, Richard Kingston consoles him in sad video, 150+ Sad messages: ideas to express your deepest feelings in 2022, What happened to Jade Castrinos after Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, List of American foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner that you will love, 80+ Juice WRLD's quotes and lyrics about love, life, success and heartbreak. Even though she survived the actual crash, she eventually bled to death before the rescue team could reach her. In 1977, lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Stevie Gaines and Gaines' sister, Cassie Gaines, were killed in a plane crash. Rossington recalls saying It was always weird for Allen and me because we were up front in the plane. Cassie Gaines Birthday and Date of Death. The plane had completely disintegrated. He suffered a heart attack while on break from tour. A small plane with 40 seats and two props the plane was anything but extraordinary. Wilkeson suffered severe internal injuries, including a punctured lung, and had most of his teeth knocked out. Pyle, Frank, and Peden were met with hostility when they finally came up to Mote. 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. One band member, JoJo Billingsly, was not on the flight. Two bulldozers were dispatched to plow a primitive path off nearby Highway 568 in order to give a ground path available to the first responders. She died from excessive bleeding as her throat had been cut from ear to ear. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Pilot Walter McCrearey and co-pilot John Grey were killed on impact. He rushed to his truck and headed in. Soon after the plane would begin to jerk and shake violently. 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. Natural causes were to blame. Lynyrd Skynyrd stops for a shot in 1973. It wasn't a Cessna; it was a Convair CV 240, a twin engine, 40-passenger plane that was down in heavy woods near Gillsburg. Cassie Gaines Death Fact Check, Birthday & Date of Death - Dead or Kicking "We didn't know how much gas was on the ground. On October 20, 1977, a Convair CV-240 carrying the band between shows from Greenville, South Carolina to Baton Rouge, Louisiana crashed outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi. We'd move one and there would be another one laying there." The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Everyone knows him as "Governor." And it left Teresa Gaines a widow. Her mother passed away on 15th February 1979 in a car accident. When the group asked Ronnies father how he was, he simply replied Hes fine. Artimus has had many ups and downs since then, several incarcerations, and a huge falling out with Gary. The talented singer met her death at the young age of 29. The tour is scheduled to run through mid-September. Johnny Mote and his ragtag team were first on the crash site. No discernable landmarks remained, save the creek bed. Lynyrd Skynyrd did not plan on keeping the plane for long. Photo: obviousmag.org. Its many hit songs include "Freebird," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps" and "Simple Man.". Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. Crying, praying, and counting the dead to see who they would never hug, play music with, and enjoy company with again. Cassie Gaines cause of death The talented singer met her death at the young age of 29. 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. Lynyrd Skynyrd was known for their hard-rocking style, driven by powerful guitars. Don't look like they can afford a ticket. Through the woods, yet another seeker appeared. Sadly, it would end all to soon. News had spread about the crash and before too long an estimated 3,000 people had swarmed to the crash site. There have been several different theories as to the culprits of this unfortunate crashing that point the finger toward watcher by Artimus, as well as the pilots of the plane themselves. Mike Rounsaville also arrived in the jeep with Dr. Lewis. 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 were 26 people on that fateful flight. Suffocating the people on the bottom from the sheer weight. Any debris left on the ground has long been buried. Here Are Our Sources: Remembering Lynyrd Skynyrds Deadly 1977 Plane Crash, Jordan Runtagh, The Rolling Stones, What Happened To The Surviving Members Of The Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash?, Micheal Cristopher, Ultimate Classic Rock.com, Falling Free Bird: The Truth About The Infamous Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash Is Stranger Than Fiction, Phil Gibbons, Ranker.com, The Joplin Globe Steve and Cassie Gaines to be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. But soon, the helicopters that were heard and seen previously were on the scene. 100+ love and trust messages for her to rekindle the passion, 100+ miss you sister quotes, messages, and texts to show your love, EU parliament chief urges Ukraine membership talks this year, UN chief condemns rich countries 'vicious' tactics against poor, Meet Empress Esi the 13-year-old GH girl building schools and giving joy to the needy through her foundation, Christian Atsu's family releases date, venue and other details about his final funeral rites, "Beauty and talent": Gorgeous young lady displays exceptional drumming skills in church, viral video melts hearts, What teams have never been to the super bowl.