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. "Steve was at the peak of his career. He was more in the image I was pre-visualizing - one of an aging rocker. 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? He had been impaled by a part of the fuselage and it pushed through his body and projected out of his back. His wife, Lola, and my wife grew up together. 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. 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 other band members Collins, Gary Rossington, Wilkeson, Powell, Artimus Pyle, and Hawkins, tour manager Ron Eckerman, and several road crew suffered . News had spread about the crash and before too long an estimated 3,000 people had swarmed to the crash site. The pilots tried an emergency landing, but the plane crashed in the woods near Gillsburg in Mississippi. Rock Musician. Home; Memorials; Cemeteries; Famous; Contribute; Register; Sign In; Register; Sign In; . I admired his ability to tell gripping stories with his camera, so I began considering a career change. Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, Kilpatrick and the pilots were laid in a temporary morgue at a local high school gymnasium. And the hardest-working rock 'n' roll band in America was about to run out of gas. Through the woods, yet another seeker appeared. 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. Everyone knows him as "Governor." Owners emphasize that trespassers can be prosecuted. 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.). 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. We love you!!!" Both Steve and Cassie Gaines were killed in the crash. He then assembled a convoy of trucks and four-wheelers to locate the crash site and rescue the survivors. It was the last flight of Lynyrd Skynyrd: Oct. 20, 1977, the night they . He suffered a heart attack while on break from tour. His only help at that moment was his neighbor, Dwain Easley. 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. A little after the two-hour mark, however, events started to unfold that would soon make history. "Sweet Home Alabama" became the southern anthem for millions. It was there that he struck up a fractured conversation. read another typical message of mourning. The band regularly has different people sit in and play shows with them like Warren Haynes and Dicky Betts. Ultimate Classic Rock What Happened to the Survivors of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash? The two men, for a while, were the only able-bodied persons present to help pull people from the wreckage. The tour is scheduled to run through mid-September. Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. Guitarists Allen Collins and Steve Gaines, Honkette Leslie Hawkins, bassist Leon Wilkeson, Honkettes Cassie Gaines and JoJo Billingsley, and. 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. That farm belonged to a young dairy farmer named Johnny Mote. 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. Gary Rossington, one of the bands guitar players, had suffered two broken arms, a broken leg, a punctured stomach and liver. The only thing left was a trail of debris and people. Some of the guys were playing poker. From left to right: Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant, And Gary Rossington. 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. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. 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. Bianca is a force to be reckoned with in the American film industry. According to a Billboard report, he died of natural causes in his sleep. The album would reach gold in ten days after release and it would eventually go double platinum. There have been several different theories as to the culprits of this . Billy Powell would be in the new starting line-up of Lynyrd Skynyrd until his death in 2009. Video of a barechested Pyle at the 1979 Volunteer Jam does not show evidence of a gunshot wound. Her mother passed away on 15th February 1979 in a car accident. He hopes to publish in time for the 40th anniversary of the crash. The will to carry on was strong, however, Pyle being a US Marine, would live out the phrase Semper Fidelis which means always faithful. Los Angeles, Billie Eilishs phone is now internet-free: Im like: Ew! So, with little hesitation I decided I should join the dance. 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. Tremendous physical pain overwhelmed the group as did mental exhaustion. What injuries did Cassie Gaines die from? 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. 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. I told him that it was the strongest thing I had seen a man do.. "It was a lot wetter that night. My younger brother and I banged out "Freebird" on a cheap set of drums in our bedroom. 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. Governor said, "I'm bad about leaving an empty beer bottle and a full one for Ronnie and the boys" each year. He had hunted squirrels along that very ridge. Dwain Easley still lives on the east side of the crash site. Artimus Pyle, drummer for the band, stops for a quick picture while en route to the next show. Was there a guest book?". Lynyrd Skynyrd disbanded after the airplane tragedy. Wilkeson would eventually be found dead in a hotel room in 2001 at age 49. 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. The plane finally slammed into the earth, and Billy Powell recalls saying, We hit the trees at approximately 90 mph. The guys hit the dirt and yelling out with what they had left Hey! Assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, the pilot, and co-pilot Walter McCreary and William Gray also died. Photo credits Airplane-Pictures.net. When the news broke that it was Lynyrd Skynyrd's tour plane, Nancy and I stared at each other. 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 (Mote) ran in the door saying, 'Ya'll get down on the floor, there's escaped convicts out there," Martin remembers. . Mother of Lynyrd Skynyrd members Cassie Gaines and Steve Gaines. I'm from southern Thailand. 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. "Are you writing a book?" he said, barely able to get his English to suit his thoughts. Some were screaming and moaning for help, but they were all limp. Rudge chartered three planes for loved ones to identify the bodies. It was Steve, and me, and Ronnie and I was in the middle of them. Gene Odom, Lynyrd Skynyrds bodyguard, recalls: They took my watch, my wallet, my ring, and my money as I lay bleeding on the ground. It sounded great to us. Marc Frank remembers seeing complete and total despair. The accident essentially destroyed one of the unique voices of American rock and roll. Collins and other band members were severely injured. The location sounded familiar so he asked them to repeat. Soon after the plane would begin to jerk and shake violently. The events before the plane crash are perhaps the most bone-chilling ones you'd ever hear. As the three marched on, feet soaking wet from the water, all odds seemed stacked against the trio. 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. We just had released an album that went gold almost overnight. 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. These things don't happen here. 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. 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. 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. He could hear the people moaning, pleading for help. The Vintage News Aerosmith Said No, Lynyrd Skynyrd Said Yes To The Plane. Wilkeson suffered severe internal injuries, including a punctured lung, and had most of his teeth knocked out. 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. Without wanting to cause alarm he thought to himself that maybe the pilots were trying to transfer fuel from one engine to another. 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). 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. For another crash scene veteran, this was also his first return visit in 38 years. The plane had a thinner fuselage and smaller wingspan than any of its kind at the time. The guys hit the dirt and yelling out with what they had left Hey! I put them all to work. 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 years after the crash would be difficult in its own right for surviving members, most of which would experience tragedy and early death themselves. If a band couldn't play Skynyrd, they didn't get hired for the school dance. The will to carry on was strong, however, Pyle being a US Marine, would live out the phrase Semper Fidelis which means always faithful. She was brought up in Miami, Florida, alongside her brothers, Bob and Steve. 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. Artimus Pyle was also notoriously outspoken against the plane and on several occasions would take buses to shows. And then we heard voices. In addition to his fractured ribcage, Artimus Pyle was treated for numerous abrasions and contusions. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. "We didn't know how much gas was on the ground. The Convair 240 itself had been inspected by members of Aerosmith's flight crew for possible use in the early summer of 1977, but was rejected because it was felt that neither the plane nor the crew were up to standards. All of the seats were ripped from the frame of the plane, landing in the front section of the crash. A tragic scene no person would ever wish to see or soon forget. Truth be known, after 38 years, Martin is a little tired of talking about the whole thing. Cassie joined the team and became one of the three members of The Honkette's, a female gospel vocal trio of Lynyrd Skynyrd. After claiming his deceased son, Lacy Van Zant went to visit the other members of the band at the hospital. Don't look like they can afford a ticket. Click to reveal There is some speculation as to why the second engine had ultimately failed. Both of which helped the album climb to the No. He had known Easley Creek since his youth. On October 20, 1977, Cassie Gaines died of non-communicable disease. On 20th October 1977, the Lynyrd Skynyrd boarded a chartered Convair CV-240 to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after their performance in Greenville, South Carolina. Cassie Gaines Lynard Skynyrd plane crash was one of the band's most challenging moments. 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. The whole scene tore him apart. Posted and no trespassing signs are prominently displayed. Despite this faux pas, Powell has been on good terms with the remaining band members since the incident. Terror soon engulfed the cabin of the plane and the pilots were frantically trying to radio local Houston Air Traffic Control, stating they had a fuel issue and were most likely going to have to make a emergency landing. It would take hours to remove the bodies of the dead and injured from the plane. 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 a walking treasure trove of names, facts and figures. I threw it in reverse and plowed into my mother-in-law's car. Photo: hu.wikipedia.com. I'm really not sure anymore," he said. Both pilots were lost in the crash as well, however, a decent amount of fans seek the closure of their conviction of attempted manslaughter, even in death. 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. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. 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. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. 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. 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. 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. And it left Teresa Gaines a widow. 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. 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. His only help at that moment was his neighbor, Dwain Easley. "I had expertise on what to do and growing up in Amite County, Mississippi didn't hurt. In 1977, lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Stevie Gaines and Gaines' sister, Cassie Gaines, were killed in a plane crash. As we talked, we heard a racket through the trees. But we were both enjoying it. Two of them were crew members, pilot Walter McReary and co-pilot William Gray, the rest were band members and roadies. But one thing I'm proud of. For members Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, the weight of what happened seemed to push down on them the most. How did Cassie Gaines get in Lynyrd Skynyrd? He smiled broadly and said, "Turn it up! Photo: Pinterest. Photo: Pinterest. She was requested to join the band as a backing vocalist. Natural causes were to blame. But there wasn't any gas on the ground because they ran out of gas.". I was just taken aback by it " but then his friend continued, "don't worry, Lynyrd made it out.". No discernable landmarks remained, save the creek bed. 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. Photo: Pinterest. 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. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. Wilkeson cheated death in 1977, surviving a crash of the band's chartered plane. Lynyrd Skynyrd stops for a shot in 1973. It would be another hour before I heard the big news. Allen's wife would bleed to death due to a miscarriage. In 1975, his sister, Cassie, whose group had been hired to sing back. On 20th October 1977, the Lynyrd Skynyrd boarded a chartered Convair CV-240 to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after their performance in Greenville, South Carolina. She was sick and would meet up with the band in Arkansas to continue the tour. She was sick and would meet up with the band in Arkansas to continue the tour. Among them were Lacy Van Zant, Ronnies Father, and .38 Specials Guitarist Dan Barnes. The album cover depicted the band members in an alleyway covered in flames. 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. The band decided that once they had landed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, they would acquire a Learjet to replace the severely outdated 30-year-old plane. "They seemed to be chasing him, trying to flag him down. McDaniel was eager to join me. 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. As he looked around the scene, his mind went back. The Vintage News Aerosmith Said No, Lynyrd Skynyrd Said Yes To The Plane. A tragic scene no person would ever wish to see or soon forget. He was known as Papa Ronnie. Billy Powell would be in the new starting line-up of Lynyrd Skynyrd until his death in 2009. When he was sober, he was a fair and kind person. Pyle, Frank, and Peden were met with hostility when they finally came up to Mote. And to Brenda's point, he's writing a book. 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. she asked me as we talked. "New Orleans is a southern city. 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. 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 Powell's nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. Natural causes were to blame. Some blame it on the planes age and poor design, weighing in on its smaller fuselage and compact wingspan. The band buckled in. The band had just released their biggest album to date and was riding off of a good high. Steven Earl Gaines (September 14, 1949 - October 20, 1977) was an American musician. For members Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, the weight of what happened seemed to push down on them the most. Mote was putting out square bales of hay for the cattle when he heard what sounded "like a car crash on a gravel road." All the surrounding land is privately owned and prominently marked with "No Trespassing" signs. Lynyrd Skynyrd was known for their hard-rocking style, driven by powerful guitars. A medical examiner said on Sunday that Wilkeson suffered from chronic liver and lung disease, and most likely died of natural causes. I've not looked at them since. It was rumored that it was Ed Kings (original guitar player for Lynyrd Skynyrd) wife but it was not confirmed. Powell also claimed that Ronnie Van Zant's head had been smashed. I grabbed my camera and jumped in the car. Collins entered the hospital with pneumonia symptoms and was in a coma the last few days, said longtime friend Ann Thompson. As the small band of brothers grew, the conversation grew lively but stayed reverent. My college roommate was a young photojournalist. Pianist Billy Powell survived, but his nose was nearly torn off and he suffered severe facial lacerations. Artimus Pyle and Gary Rossington are the only two members alive today from the crash. Cassie Gaines Wikipedia; Sponsored Links. That now legendary and near-mythical plane crash killed Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, Honkettes backup singer Cassie Gaines, assistant tour manager Dean Kilpatrick and the pilot and co-p I didn't know where this was going. Marc Frank recalled hearing both engines on the plane then within a matter of minutes, just air passing over the cabin. Crying, praying, and counting the dead to see who they would never hug, play music with, and enjoy company with again. Billy had taken too long on his intro to the song Free Bird and that didnt set well with Ronnie. He remembered seeing bodies everywhere. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2fad0cc830fa72 I knew I could take photographs if I could get there. 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. 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. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. As we walked through the woods, Governor and I agree that nothing looked or felt the same. Ronnie Van Zant enjoying a stog before a show. Pilots Walter McCreary and William Gray were fully aware of a fuel shortage before the flight took off. As we walked, Easely pointed to a towering pine. The album had two notable songs: Whats your name and That Smell. I knew I had no business going, and my wife told me so. 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. Thats when most of the sober members of the band saw that the right propeller was no longer working. But sadly when he drank, which was quite often, his demeanor and character qualities changed drastically.