She said her husband grabbed his .243 hunting rifle, ran out and fired a warning shot. Guitarists Allen Collins and Steve Gaines, Honkette Leslie Hawkins, bassist Leon Wilkeson, Honkettes Cassie Gaines and JoJo Billingsley, and. ", "And everybody says they were the first one there. A chartered Convair 240, N55VM, carrying the band between shows from Greenville, South Carolina to LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana crashed near a forest in McComb, Mississippi. MCA Records, out of courtesy, withdrew the sleeve and replaced it with a cover of the band striking a similar pose against a plain black background. Some blame it on the planes age and poor design, weighing in on its smaller fuselage and compact wingspan. I couldn't stand it. 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. Cassie Larue Gaines was an American singer. My younger brother and I banged out "Freebird" on a cheap set of drums in our bedroom. Gene Odom, Lynyrd Skynyrds bodyguard, recalls: They took my watch, my wallet, my ring, and my money as I lay bleeding on the ground. Ronnie Van Zant enjoying a stog before a show. 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. In the ensuing chaos, souvenir hunters took billfolds, jewelry, suitcases, band merchandise and even chunks of metal from the crash site. Losing daylight, the pilots desperately looked for an open field or some kind of saving grace. "May the free bird fly on," read one message. For another crash scene veteran, this was also his first return visit in 38 years. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. Posted and no trespassing signs are prominently displayed. Minutes later he was guiding an ambulance through an overgrown trail. Her brother was Skynyrd guitarist Steve Gaines. He lifted one after another and shuffled them to others outside. The band would be marked for strife as just before their inaugural tour, Allens wife would bleed to death due to a miscarriage. At least one member, background singer Cassie Gaines, had refused to board the flight, but was convinced against her better judgment. Cause of death: Car accident. The aircraft was destroyed by impact; there was no fire. 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). "It was stuff I'd been trained to do," he said. The pilots were still in their seats, but were laying upside down in nearby trees. Sang background vocals (one of the Honkettes) for Lynyrd Skynyrd. 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. Sadly, it would end all to soon. I was just taken aback by it " but then his friend continued, "don't worry, Lynyrd made it out.". 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. 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. 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. Wilkeson would eventually be found dead in a hotel room in 2001 at age 49. 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. Mote fired a warning shot in the air. 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. But soon, the helicopters that were heard and seen previously were on the scene. Almost four decades later, I noticed a seemingly innocuous post on Facebook. Marc Frank was beaten terribly and was also covered in lacerations and blood. [2] Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, Kilpatrick and the pilots were laid in a temporary morgue at a local high school gymnasium. The plane had completely disintegrated. On 20th October 1977, the Lynyrd Skynyrd boarded a chartered Convair CV-240 to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after their performance in Greenville, South Carolina. Birthday: January 9, 1948. Losing daylight, the pilots desperately looked for an open field or some kind of saving grace. In 1977, lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Stevie Gaines and Gaines' sister, Cassie Gaines, were killed in a plane crash. Lynyrd Skynyrd is a staple on rock, classic rock, and southern radio stations. Everyone on the flight, except for Ronnie Van Zant, was feeling uneasy and restless. He was the New Orleans-based photographer for the Associated Press Jack Thornell, known for his Pulitzer Prize winning photo of civil rights leader James Meredith. I grabbed my camera and jumped in the car. The site has drawn visitors over the years. Ronnie had died instantly upon impact, his head slamming into a tree. Powell's nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. Rossington recalls saying It was always weird for Allen and me because we were up front in the plane. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. We were shocked, as were most others hearing the news. Rudge chartered three planes for loved ones to identify the bodies. "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. These things don't happen here. 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. Medical personnel arrived and began to ferry out the injured and the dead. The accident essentially destroyed one of the unique voices of American rock and roll. Collins, 37, suffered respiratory failure, said a Memorial Medical Center spokeswoman. Artimus has had many ups and downs since then, several incarcerations, and a huge falling out with Gary. 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. Street Survivors became the band's second platinum album, and was the #5 top selling album on the U.S. album chart. Cassie was buried in Orange Park, Florida, together with her brother, Steve Gains. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. 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 the last flight of Lynyrd Skynyrd: Oct. 20, 1977, the night they . Dean Kilpatrick, the bands manager, lay dead and covered in blood. Tangled by underbrush and the 20-foot creek, the rescue team had to act and think fast. Aerosmith's touring family was also relieved because the band, specifically Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, had been trying to pressure their management into renting that specific plane. 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. One such silent witness has found a way to talk. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. All he could think was that they must be from a recent a jailbreak," she said. Billy Powell, the bands keyboardist, received extensive facial lacerations and a broken right knee. 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. "Why, yes I do," I said, thinking about my roots, my old buddies and the high school dances. Rudge chartered three planes for loved ones to identify the bodies. Freebird, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 10/20/77 and a notebook-sized rebel flag are deeply etched into the old bark. Both of which helped the album climb to the No. 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. But as my wife and I watched the news bulletins flash on TV, it was a big deal. Photo: Uncle Johns Bathroom Reader. 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. News had spread about the crash and before too long an estimated 3,000 people had swarmed to the crash site. On the original pressing of the cover of Street Survivors was a photograph of the band engulfed in flames. I can't remember," he said. He was known as Papa Ronnie. The album had a very controversial cover when released. Pyle claimed in a February 2007 appearance on Howard Stern's Sirius radio program that Mote had shot him; Mote has always denied shooting the drummer. All of the seats were ripped from the frame of the plane, landing in the front section of the crash. 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. He remembered seeing bodies everywhere. 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. Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash site draws a pilgrimage. to gather a few more. Wilkeson cheated death in 1977, surviving a crash of the band's chartered plane. ", "I never cared about flying in an airplane," he said. Crying, praying, and counting the dead to see who they would never hug, play music with, and enjoy company with again. Cassie Gaines mother was LaRue, while her father was Bud. He had known Easley Creek since his youth. The only thing left was a trail of debris and people. 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. "He (Mote) ran in the door saying, 'Ya'll get down on the floor, there's escaped convicts out there," Martin remembers. Before long, he noticed three men emerge from the dense woods along the pasture. 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.". Mother of Lynyrd Skynyrd members Cassie Gaines and Steve Gaines. Powells nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. The reason behind this? Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2fad0cc830fa72 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 years after the crash would be difficult in its own right for surviving members, most of which would experience tragedy and early death themselves. It sounded great to us. He smiled broadly and said, "Turn it up! We'd move one and there would be another one laying there." Photo credits Airplane-Pictures.net. 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 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. 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. The plane finally slammed into the earth, and Billy Powell recalls saying, We hit the trees at approximately 90 mph. Toxicology tests were also ordered to determine whether there were drugs in his system at the time. I had not realized before, but he also was there that night. The fuselage turned sideways, and everybody was hurled forward.. The sky is the limit for the talented actress. "He didn't want to talk about it for years.". A costly mistake at 9,000ft or so. A small plane with 40 seats and two props the plane was anything but extraordinary. she asked me as we talked. You have permission to edit this article. Photo: hu.wikipedia.com. 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. Part of the preparations required contacting landowners and securing permission to be there and a guide to lead me in. The guys hit the dirt and yelling out with what they had left Hey! There is some speculation as to why the second engine had ultimately failed. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. The band was reaching fever pitch with its fans across the South and the nation. He hopes to publish in time for the 40th anniversary of the crash. Everyone was afraid of riding on this plane. So we came out here and got busy. 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 fuselage turned sideways, and everybody was hurled forward.. "If (that tree) could talk, it'd tell you all about it," he said. Powells nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. Dean Kilpatrick, the bands manager, lay dead and covered in blood. From left to right: Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant, And Gary Rossington. Their lyrics were raw and fresh - honest and simple.

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