She was hesitant because she had seen a small fire in one of the engines the previous day. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Its many hit songs include "Freebird," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps" and "Simple Man.". "It was the saddest thing," she recalls, 11 years later. 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 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. A plane crash left lead singer Ronnie Van Zandt, lead guitarist Steve Gaines and backup singer Cassie Gaines dead. "I saw the blond hair," he said. Easley knows he wasn't the first on the site, but he was there early. 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. So, with little hesitation I decided I should join the dance. 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. On the original pressing of the cover of Street Survivors was a photograph of the band engulfed in flames. Powell also claimed that Ronnie Van Zant's head had been smashed. Cassie Larue Gaines was an American singer. But not all had the intentions of lending a helping hand. Ronnie Van Zant enjoying a stog before a show. 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. Buker had noticed the flight crew passing around liquor bottles while aboard the plane. Three crew members died in a plane crash just three days after the release of their 5th album. Photo: hu.wikipedia.com. . 10 Details About the Fatal Plane Crash that Was the Death of Lynyrd The band buckled in. 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. 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. But one thing I'm proud of. 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. There is some speculation as to why the second engine had ultimately failed. Photo: thetv.info. As he looked around the scene, his mind went back. Rescue vehicles on the ground found no direct path in sight. It would take hours to remove the bodies of the dead and injured from the plane. Her brother was Skynyrd guitarist Steve Gaines. 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 pilots were still in their seats, but were laying upside down in nearby trees. All reality had been broken and none of the surviving members would ever be the same or view life the same again. Lynyrd Skynyrd is a FANDOM Music Community. Obviously it is hard to dictate the correct story when various opinions and recollections are thrown out, however, it seems to us as though the pilots were aware of the faulty issues of the plane, did not check to make sure that the plane had enough gas, and did not seem to make an attempt to alert the passengers of their timely death. Van Zant himself "loathed flying," as Rolling Stone. I admired his ability to tell gripping stories with his camera, so I began considering a career change. Marc Frank, a 24-year-old roadie traveling with the band, noticed what seemed to be fuel spewing from the right engine. Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and singer Cassie Gaines were all killed in the crash, and the band stopped performing and recording. Los Angeles, Billie Eilishs phone is now internet-free: Im like: Ew! From left to right: Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant, And Gary Rossington. Some were screaming and moaning for help, but they were all limp. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. 35 Years After Tragedy, Lynyrd Skynyrd Still Carries On - Rolling Stone The medical examiner reported that Wilkeson suffered from liver and lung disease at the time of his death. Wilkeson cheated death in 1977, surviving a crash of the band's chartered plane. Cassie Gaines died on the 20 th of October, 1977 in a plane crash at Gillsburg, Mississippi when she was only 29 years old. The Tragic Death Of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Ronnie Van Zant - Grunge.com Everyone knows him as "Governor." Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. Gary Rossington, one of the bands guitar players, had suffered two broken arms, a broken leg, a punctured stomach and liver. 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. Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash site draws a pilgrimage At the time of her death she survived by her large extended friends and family. 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. Van Zant died instantly of blunt force trauma to the head. As we walked through the woods, Governor and I agree that nothing looked or felt the same. She said her husband grabbed his .243 hunting rifle, ran out and fired a warning shot. He was known as Papa Ronnie. He hopes to publish in time for the 40th anniversary of the crash. Losing daylight, the pilots desperately looked for an open field or some kind of saving grace. The Vintage News Aerosmith Said No, Lynyrd Skynyrd Said Yes To The Plane. In the ensuing chaos, souvenir hunters took billfolds, jewelry, suitcases, band merchandise and even chunks of metal from the crash site. Band confidant, Gene Odum, is privately interviewed to share his story on what happened on this awful day in history. 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. 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. Shining from what seemed to be a small house on a dairy farm. Owners emphasize that trespassers can be prosecuted. 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. "Seems like everyone is writing a book. It would take hours to remove the bodies of the dead and injured from the plane. Without wanting to cause alarm he thought to himself that maybe the pilots were trying to transfer fuel from one engine to another. Small and cramped, it still felt better than lift-off of the Convair CV-240. 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. From left to right: Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant, And Gary Rossington. The pilots would have to make an emergency landing. Despite this faux pas, Powell has been on good terms with the remaining band members since the incident. The official cause of death will be announced after toxicology test results come back in two to three weeks. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. A Convair CV-240. 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. She was born on 9th January 1948 in Missouri, USA. According to a Billboard report, he died of natural causes in his sleep. I've not looked at them since. The band has sold an estimated 35 million records. Photo: Pinterest. 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. The cover would quickly be changed to a more bland blacked-out background with the band in the same pose after the accident. Rossington recalls saying It was always weird for Allen and me because we were up front in the plane. A medical examiner said on Sunday that Wilkeson suffered from chronic liver and lung disease, and most likely died of natural causes. With the dust settled from a plane crash that would make a small Mississippi town famous, everything that surrounded the few conscious and able survivors were completely horrific and getting darker by the second. 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. At the time of her death, she was 29 years old. She was sick and would meet up with the band in Arkansas to continue the tour. Both of which helped the album climb to the No. It was suggested on the VH-1 Behind The Music profile on Skynyrd that this was the case, or that the pilots, panicking when the right engine failed, accidentally dumped the remaining fuel. "Live on my brother. It was the last flight of Lynyrd Skynyrd: Oct. 20, 1977, the night they . Steve Gaines - Wikipedia Cassie was 29 years old at the time of death. 1977 Plane Crash | Lynyrd Skynyrd | Fandom The tree where the cockpit came to rest has long-since died. Almost as mysteriously, the full bottle is never seen again. 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. In addition to his fractured ribcage, Artimus Pyle was treated for numerous abrasions and contusions. Coincidence? Cassie Gaines (1948-1977) - Find a Grave Memorial At the beginning of the flight, all was well, amid high tensions. Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, Kilpatrick and the pilots were laid in a temporary morgue at a local high school gymnasium. There have been several different theories as to the culprits of this . Mote recalls the first thing he saw was a bloody hand sticking out from the wreckage. 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. As the small band of brothers grew, the conversation grew lively but stayed reverent. Other band members were injured, some very seriously. Lynyrd Skynyrd is a staple on rock, classic rock, and southern radio stations. 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? Mike Rounsaville also arrived in the jeep with Dr. Lewis. But sadly when he drank, which was quite often, his demeanor and character qualities changed drastically. He had hunted squirrels along that very ridge. Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, Kilpatrick and the pilots were laid in a temporary morgue at a local high school gymnasium. 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. Several members of the band died in a plane crash that occurred on October 20, 1977, three days after the release of Street Survivors. 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. He knew those woods well. I'm still not sure why. He remembered seeing bodies everywhere. The band regularly has different people sit in and play shows with them like Warren Haynes and Dicky Betts. They all died but we didnt. Although Steven Tyler and Joe Perry had insisted that they charter the plane, ultimately it was not signed to the band. Gene Odom, Lynyrd Skynyrds bodyguard, recalls: They took my watch, my wallet, my ring, and my money as I lay bleeding on the ground. The album cover depicted the band members in an alleyway covered in flames. 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. What happened to the Menendez brothers' money? When he was sober, he was a fair and kind person. While the site is duly remembered, it is on private property and is not open to the public. He could hear the people moaning, pleading for help. 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? There were 26 people on that fateful flight. Thats when most of the sober members of the band saw that the right propeller was no longer working. McDaniel was eager to join me. I knew my camera had stories to tell. "Why, yes I do," I said, thinking about my roots, my old buddies and the high school dances. And then we heard voices. A costly mistake at 9,000ft or so. 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'd busted bales of hay in the bed to soften the ride," he said. 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. This year there were no red roses, but a freshly carved "R.J." stood out with red paint enhancement. Marc Frank was beaten terribly and was also covered in lacerations and blood. At the beginning of the flight, all was well, amid high tensions. Rescue vehicles on the ground found no direct path in sight. A little after an hour of trudging through a creek and at one point burrowing underneath a barbed wire fence they found themselves staring at a small, dim light in the distance. Pilot Walter McCrearey and co-pilot John Grey were killed on impact. Wilkeson would eventually be found dead in a hotel room in 2001 at age 49. Both brother and sister were killed in the airplane crash that also took the life of Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist Ronnie Van Zant. I began the classic guitar lick. The reason behind this? We were shocked, as were most others hearing the news. Freebird, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 10/20/77 and a notebook-sized rebel flag are deeply etched into the old bark. His first band recorded its debut at Sun Recording Studio in Memphis, and later bands included RIO Smokehouse and Rusty Day. 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. We had to cross a black water slew," he said. News had spread about the crash and before too long an estimated 3,000 people had swarmed to the crash site. The Vintage News Aerosmith Said No, Lynyrd Skynyrd Said Yes To The Plane. The albums that followed featured a plain black background. Musician. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. When the news broke that it was Lynyrd Skynyrd's tour plane, Nancy and I stared at each other. Cassie Gaines was one of the band members who boarded the ill-fated flight. We had a friendly translator whose command of the English language was poor at best. Two of them were crew members, pilot Walter McReary and co-pilot William Gray, the rest were band members and roadies. "I've been coming for years," he said, "and I've never met anyone who was here that night. If a band couldn't play Skynyrd, they didn't get hired for the school dance. As we walked, Easely pointed to a towering pine. The reason behind this? 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. Cassie Gaines Death: and Cause of Death. Cassie Gaines Death Fact Check, Birthday & Date of Death - Dead or Kicking The aircraft crashed in a heavily wooded area during an attempted emergency landing. It felt like being hit with baseball bats in a steel garbage can with the lid on. Truth be known, after 38 years, Martin is a little tired of talking about the whole thing. Pilots Walter McCreary and William Gray were fully aware of a fuel shortage before the flight took off. How did Cassie Gaines get in Lynyrd Skynyrd? ", He reached up and pealed the split fuselage back and, with a flashlight, peered into the dark, jumbled mess of bodies. Shining from what seemed to be a small house on a dairy farm. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. "That solidified that idea. Especially with the song That Smell. We beat patterns into our dashboards drumming out the beat. Tremendous physical pain overwhelmed the group as did mental exhaustion. 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. Road crew member Steve Lawler, who suffered severe contusions and facial lacerations, was taken to the hospital in a pickup with a camper top. ", Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. After claiming his deceased son, Lacy Van Zant went to visit the other members of the band at the hospital. Cassie Gaines Wikipedia; Sponsored Links. The crash killed Ronnie Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, as well as pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray. Pyle maintains in the Howard Stern interview that the fuel gauge in the older model plane malfunctioned and the pilots had failed to manually check the tanks before taking off. When And How Did Cassie Gaines Die And Did She Have Children? Cassie Gaines Birthday and Date of Death. Things were going so well. So, we're both southerners.". Without wanting to cause alarm he thought to himself that maybe the pilots were trying to transfer fuel from one engine to another. Crying, praying, and counting the dead to see who they would never hug, play music with, and enjoy company with again. When he was sober, he was a fair and kind person. Rudge chartered three planes for loved ones to identify the bodies. 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. 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. Contributing to the fuel exhaustion were inadequate flight planning and an engine malfunction of undetermined nature in the right engine which resulted in higher-than-normal fuel consumption." Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. Artimus Pyle, drummer for the band, stops for a quick picture while en route to the next show. The pilots would have to make an emergency landing. In 1982 he would form the Allen Collins band but shortly after would wreck his new Ford Thunderbird, killing his then girlfriend and paralyzing Collins. The pilot and co-pilot also died; 20 others aboard lived. Among them were Lacy Van Zant, Ronnies Father, and .38 Specials Guitarist Dan Barnes. 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. He was best known for being a Rock Singer. Suffocating the people on the bottom from the sheer weight. Even though she survived the actual crash, she eventually bled to death before the rescue team could reach her. I couldn't stand it. Band members Artimus Pyle and Billy Powell entered the cockpit to get an idea of what was happening. By then, a Coast Guard helicopter was hovering overhead. Everyone was afraid of riding on this plane. Cassie LaRue Hatfield Gaines (1926-1979) - Find a 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. "But using a phone out here is worthless," he said, and even with his expertise, he had trouble finding the exact spot of the crash site. Rudge chartered three planes for loved ones to identify the bodies. For another crash scene veteran, this was also his first return visit in 38 years. Home; Memorials; Cemeteries; Famous; Contribute; Register; Sign In; Register; Sign In; . In the ensuing chaos, souvenir hunters took billfolds, jewelry, suitcases, band merchandise and even chunks of metal from the crash site. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Dean Kilpatrick, the bands manager, lay dead and covered in blood. I put them all to work. That's when Mote connected the dots with the noise he had heard earlier. Collins entered the hospital with pneumonia symptoms and was in a coma the last few days, said longtime friend Ann Thompson. Photo: obviousmag.org. But we were both enjoying it. Born Steven Earl Gaines, the son of Cassie Hatfield and Earl Gaines. Varying accounts have Mote either firing a warning shot into the air or actually shooting Pyle in the shoulder no report is completely reliable. The other two members were JoJo Billingsley and Leslie Hawkins.