This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Owners emphasize that trespassers can be prosecuted. And then we heard voices. Their lyrics were raw and fresh - honest and simple. 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. I quickly maneuvered free of a crumpled bumper and sped off. Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash site draws a pilgrimage 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). I told him that it was the strongest thing I had seen a man do.. "The first thing I saw was a bloody hand reaching out from the debris. According to a Billboard report, he died of natural causes in his sleep. Ronnie Van Zant was just more than the bands main songwriter, frontman, and singer. Lynyrd Skynyrd was known for their hard-rocking style, driven by powerful guitars. The whole scene tore him apart. Tangled by underbrush and the 20-foot creek, the rescue team had to act and think fast. 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. As the bulletins continued, they became more descriptive: "Tractors were pulling ambulances across a creek" was one exaggerated quote I remember so well. 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. Victims were taken to the hospital in McComb, Mississippi by ambulances and other vehicles. 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. Crying, praying, and counting the dead to see who they would never hug, play music with, and enjoy company with again. It would take hours to remove the bodies of the dead and injured from the plane. The reason behind this? He was best known for being a Rock Singer. Photo: hu.wikipedia.com. A small plane with 40 seats and two props the plane was anything but extraordinary. His only help at that moment was his neighbor, Dwain Easley. Sooner Guitarist's Music Lives On Even in Death - The Oklahoman Cassie Gaines Lynard Skynyrd plane crash was one of the band's most challenging moments. Photo: obviousmag.org. Suffocating the people on the bottom from the sheer weight. She was sick and would meet up with the band in Arkansas to continue the tour. Band members Artimus Pyle and Billy Powell entered the cockpit to get an idea of what was happening. Click to reveal Both of which helped the album climb to the No. Your IP: Since Cassie was not aware of the band's existence at that time, Jojo offered her a copy of Lynyrd Skynyrd's first two albums to make her acquainted with the band's work. Easley knows he wasn't the first on the site, but he was there early. She was sick and would meet up with the band in Arkansas to continue the tour. At the time of her death she survived by her large extended friends and family. It is possible that the damaged magneto fooled the pilots into creating an exceptionally rich fuel mixture, causing the Convair to run out of fuel. The pilot and co-pilot also died; 20 others aboard lived. "I had expertise on what to do and growing up in Amite County, Mississippi didn't hurt. Photo: Pinterest. Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, Kilpatrick and the pilots were laid in a temporary morgue at a local high school gymnasium. The band would be marked for strife as just before their inaugural tour, Allens wife would bleed to death due to a miscarriage. Almost four decades later, I noticed a seemingly innocuous post on Facebook. I was just taken aback by it " but then his friend continued, "don't worry, Lynyrd made it out.". Artimus has had many ups and downs since then, several incarcerations, and a huge falling out with Gary. He suffered a heart attack while on break from tour. 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. "They seemed to be chasing him, trying to flag him down. Artimus Pyle and Gary Rossington are the only two members alive today from the crash. The flight was going good so far and other than Ronnie getting severely intoxicated while on the flight, all seemed to be setting up to be another routine flight. But I loved the bonding. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. The death of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gains of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd was a massive blow to many. I dont know who you think we are but we were on a plane and the plane crashed out there on the other side of that cow pasture. Mote instantly connected the dots to the sound he heard earlier and the men that lay before him. She was hesitant because she had seen a small fire in one of the engines the previous day. The rest of the group had no idea at the time that they would never see the face of Ronnie again. Cassie LaRue Hatfield Gaines (1926-1979) - Find a In 1986, his car ran off a road and crashed into a culvert, paralyzing him from the waist down and killing his girlfriend. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. Cassie Gaines was one of the band members who boarded the ill-fated flight. 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. A little after the two-hour mark, however, events started to unfold that would soon make history. "It was a lot wetter that night. In Genes interview, he mentions that he ran to the cock pit and to alert the pilots of the exploded engine and their response was Nothins wrong. 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. "I've been coming for years," he said, "and I've never met anyone who was here that night. Toxicology tests were also ordered to determine whether there were drugs in his system at the time. Gary Rossington, one of the bands guitar players, had suffered two broken arms, a broken leg, a punctured stomach and liver. For members Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, the weight of what happened seemed to push down on them the most. We always wondered why, you know. The surviving members would grapple with this throughout their days. Street Survivors was released just three days before the crash and would quickly become a hit. News had spread about the crash and before too long an estimated 3,000 people had swarmed to the crash site. When the group asked Ronnies father how he was, he simply replied Hes fine. Everyone just stood there helpless. 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. 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 Street Survivors became the band's second platinum album, and was the #5 top selling album on the U.S. album chart. On hearing of the accident, Billingsley was so shaken that some of her hair fell out. She began her career at a young age but has grown steadily over the years to become one of the best in Hollywood. I threw it in reverse and plowed into my mother-in-law's car. As medical personnel triaged the scene, he helped carry the litters of the injured and the dead across the creek to a waiting 4-wheel-drive pickup truck. Medical personnel arrived and began to ferry out the injured and the dead. He had been impaled by a part of the fuselage and it pushed through his body and projected out of his back. An old high school friend, Bobby McDaniel, posted a photo and a comment about a name-carved tree from the crash site. Remembering Lynyrd Skynyrd's Deadly 1977 Plane Crash It would be another hour before I heard the big news. Johnny Mote and his ragtag team were first on the crash site. 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. Unfortunately, their plane ran short of fuel. The other two members were JoJo Billingsley and Leslie Hawkins. ", "I never cared about flying in an airplane," he said. Photo: thetv.info. The pilots were still in their seats, but were laying upside down in nearby trees. I dont like that, The Weeknd is getting mocked for his response to Rolling Stones The Idol expos, Daisy Jones & the Six review: Riley Keough fronts a rock soap opera, Aaron Carters mom posts awful photos from death scene, pushes for homicide inquiry, Wayne Shorter, influential jazz saxophonist and composer, dies at 89. Ronnie had died instantly upon impact, his head slamming into a tree. I used my camera in my work. Photo: Pinterest. 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. The plane had completely disintegrated. I knew I had no business going, and my wife told me so. Cassie Gaines was born on January 9, 1948 and died on October 20, 1977. "I knew she was gone. The plane had a thinner fuselage and smaller wingspan than any of its kind at the time. Marc Frank was beaten terribly and was also covered in lacerations and blood. I dont know who you think we are but we were on a plane and the plane crashed out there on the other side of that cow pasture. Mote instantly connected the dots to the sound he heard earlier and the men that lay before him. 10 Details About the Fatal Plane Crash that Was the Death of Lynyrd The tragic story of Lynyrd Skynyrd members death - Rock And Roll Garage A Convair CV-240, similar to the one in the crash. The plane finally slammed into the earth, and Billy Powell recalls saying, We hit the trees at approximately 90 mph. Was there a guest book?". He didn't know who the victims were. 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. He smiled broadly and said, "Turn it up! The news was shocking -- a plane crash near my hometown of McComb, Miss. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Gene Odom, Lynyrd Skynyrds bodyguard, recalls: They took my watch, my wallet, my ring, and my money as I lay bleeding on the ground. After claiming his deceased son, Lacy Van Zant went to visit the other members of the band at the hospital. What happened to the Menendez brothers' money? Even long after she is gone, her legacy as one of the most talented singers remains. Johnny headed for the crash site to see if he could help. Pilot Walter. Varying accounts have Mote either firing a warning shot into the air or actually shooting Pyle in the shoulder no report is completely reliable. Ultimate Classic Rock What Happened to the Survivors of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash? In an interview in the book Walk This Way, Aerosmith's assistant chief of flight operations Zunk Buker tells of seeing pilots McCreary and Gray trading a bottle of Jack Daniels back and forth while Buker and his father were inspecting the plane. Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. "Seems like everyone is writing a book. But as my wife and I watched the news bulletins flash on TV, it was a big deal. "He didn't want to talk about it for years.". A medical examiner said on Sunday that Wilkeson suffered from chronic liver and lung disease, and most likely died of natural causes. Powell's version of events has been discounted by both Artimus Pyle and Judy Van Zant Jenness, who posted the autopsy reports on the band's website in early 1998 in order to set the record straight. The whole scene tore him apart. However, it is believed that the pilots were trying to transfer oil from one engine to another when they accidentally jettisoned the fuel instead. How did Cassie Gaines of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd die? - Yen Cassie Gaines Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements Several members of the band died in a plane crash that occurred on October 20, 1977, three days after the release of Street Survivors. 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. "Yes, your right," I said, slightly amused. They were scheduled to perform at the Louisiana State University. But there wasn't any gas on the ground because they ran out of gas.". It was rumored that it was Ed Kings (original guitar player for Lynyrd Skynyrd) wife but it was not confirmed. The band was reaching fever pitch with its fans across the South and the nation. 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. Natural causes were to blame. Allen Collins, another guitar player for the group, had cracked two vertebrae, and the cut to his right arm was so severe, that it almost required amputation. Powells nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. she asked me as we talked. Even though she survived the actual crash, she eventually bled to death before the rescue team could reach her. A Convair CV-240. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Stinky! "He (Mote) ran in the door saying, 'Ya'll get down on the floor, there's escaped convicts out there," Martin remembers. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Her mother passed away on 15th February 1979 in a car accident. Coincidence? 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. 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. He suffered a heart attack . In the beginning, the singer was reluctant to board the aircraft and had already bought another commercial flight ticket. Don't look like they can afford a ticket. Cause of death: Car accident. Last of the two surviving original member of the band, Gary Rossington, with Johnny Van Zant to his left and guitarist Rickey Medlocke to the right. 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. Pilots Walter McCreary and William Gray were fully aware of a fuel shortage before the flight took off. The albums that followed featured a plain black background. Killing three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd: Apparently in - thevintagenews 10 Details About the Fatal Plane Crash that Was the Death of Lynyrd Other band members were injured, some very seriously. All of the seats were ripped from the frame of the plane, landing in the front section of the crash. It sounded great to us. Buker had noticed the flight crew passing around liquor bottles while aboard the plane. 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. The band has asked that fans wishing to remember Wilkeson do so through the Musician's Assistance Program, which assists musicians and industry professionals seeking treatment for addiction. Cassie Gaines - Wikipedia Throughout the ordeal, he remembers seeing the debris and suitcases scattered around, but he didn't think anything of it. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. The events before the plane crash are perhaps the most bone-chilling ones you'd ever hear. In the ensuing chaos, souvenir hunters took billfolds, jewelry, suitcases, band merchandise and even chunks of metal from the crash site. Her brother was Skynyrd guitarist Steve Gaines. Lynyrd Skynyrd is no doubt an American staple in music and southern rock culture. Leon Wilkeson, their bass player, had arguably the most harrowing recovery; as he faced many internal injuries, dislodged teeth, and a broken left arm and leg, and his heart stopped twice on the operating table while doctors frantically struggled to keep him alive. We beat patterns into our dashboards drumming out the beat. Making the original release cover more valuable to collectors than the second cover released just a few weeks after the album hit the shelves. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Band confidant, Gene Odum, is privately interviewed to share his story on what happened on this awful day in history. We were shocked, as were most others hearing the news. "If (that tree) could talk, it'd tell you all about it," he said. The Last Flight of Lynyrd Skynyrd It Was the Day the Music Died The tail section broke off, the cockpit broke off and buckled underneath, then both wings broke off. Sang background vocals (one of the Honkettes) for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Original cover for Street Survivors, 1977Notably, the third member of The Honkettes, JoJo Billingsley, was not on the plane and in fact was home tending to a family member's illness. Steve Gaines - Wikipedia He could hear the people moaning, pleading for help. 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. Artimus Pyle, drummer for the band, stops for a quick picture while en route to the next show. 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. 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. The fuselage turned sideways, and everybody was hurled forward.. 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. He had been impaled by a part of the fuselage and it pushed through his body and projected out of his back. Shining from what seemed to be a small house on a dairy farm. 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. Some of the guys were playing poker. Gary Rossington, one of the bands guitar players, had suffered two broken arms, a broken leg, a punctured stomach and liver. Especially with the song That Smell. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? These combinations of poorly built aircraft and less than acceptable crew quickly led to the dismissal of the band leasing out their services. His only help at that moment was his neighbor, Dwain Easley. I admired his ability to tell gripping stories with his camera, so I began considering a career change. ", He reached up and pealed the split fuselage back and, with a flashlight, peered into the dark, jumbled mess of bodies. Powell also claimed that Ronnie Van Zant's head had been smashed. The cover would quickly be changed to a more bland blacked-out background with the band in the same pose after the accident. I obviously didn't know what I was doing. ", "There were plenty of old boys standing around here. Ronnie Van Zant enjoying a stog before a show. I told him that it was the strongest thing I had seen a man do.. Mote recalls the first thing he saw was a bloody hand sticking out from the wreckage. She was requested to join the band as a backing vocalist. 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. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. A costly mistake at 9,000ft or so. Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, Kilpatrick and the pilots were laid in a temporary morgue at a local high school gymnasium. Photo: hu.wikipedia.com. He was only 39, but was no rookie. On one occasion after a show, he approached Billy Powell who was the bands keyboard player, and punched him so hard in the mouth he knocked his two front teeth out. [2] I'd deal with that later. On 20th October 1977, the Lynyrd Skynyrd boarded a chartered Convair CV-240 to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after their performance in Greenville, South Carolina. The three injured men hiked some distance from the crash site, through swampy woods, and finally flagged down farmer Johnny Mote, who had come to investigate. The band has sold an estimated 35 million records. It was Steve, and me, and Ronnie and I was in the middle of them. As the three marched on, feet soaking wet from the water, all odds seemed stacked against the trio. For another crash scene veteran, this was also his first return visit in 38 years. They were scheduled to perform at the Louisiana State University. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. Billy Powell, the bands keyboardist, received extensive facial lacerations and a broken right knee. We had a friendly translator whose command of the English language was poor at best. We knew every word. It would take hours to remove the bodies of the dead and injured from the plane. Road crew member Steve Lawler, who suffered severe contusions and facial lacerations, was taken to the hospital in a pickup with a camper top. I knew my camera had stories to tell. Rossington recalls saying It was always weird for Allen and me because we were up front in the plane. He could see the circling helicopter from his back yard. McDaniel was eager to join me. Steven Earl Gaines (September 14, 1949 - October 20, 1977) was an American musician. Artimus has had many ups and downs since then, several incarcerations, and a huge falling out with Gary. Despite this faux pas, Powell has been on good terms with the remaining band members since the incident. 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. Violent, wild, and belligerent, Ronnie was a force to be reckoned with. But soon, the helicopters that were heard and seen previously were on the scene. Lewis was on emergency room call that night at McComb's Southwest Regional Medical Center. His first band recorded its debut at Sun Recording Studio in Memphis, and later bands included RIO Smokehouse and Rusty Day.
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