Steven Earl Gaines (September 14, 1949 - October 20, 1977) was an American musician. Johnny Mote and his ragtag team were first on the crash site. From left to right: Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant, And Gary Rossington. Cassie Gaines mother was LaRue, while her father was Bud. 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. Collins entered the hospital with pneumonia symptoms and was in a coma the last few days, said longtime friend Ann Thompson. Lynyrd Skynyrd is a staple on rock, classic rock, and southern radio stations. 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. 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. I was not there to be a gawker or to get in the way. Although Steven Tyler and Joe Perry had insisted that they charter the plane, ultimately it was not signed to the band. A tragic scene no person would ever wish to see or soon forget. In 1977, lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Stevie Gaines and Gaines' sister, Cassie Gaines, were killed in a plane crash. I put them all to work. 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. Rossington recalls saying It was always weird for Allen and me because we were up front in the plane. The only thing left was a trail of debris and people. he said, barely able to get his English to suit his thoughts. I knew my camera had stories to tell. A few minutes later I was talking my way past a Mississippi State trooper. All he could think was that they must be from a recent a jailbreak," she said. 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. After the death of three of their members, the band decided to change the cover photo of the album, which initially featured a picture of the band engulfed in flames. The aircraft crashed in a heavily wooded area during an attempted emergency landing. 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. Aerosmiths band management at the time was looking at a Convair CV-240. In 1986, his car ran off a road and crashed into a culvert, paralyzing him from the waist down and killing his girlfriend. 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. Was there a guest book?". 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. "The first thing I saw was a bloody hand reaching out from the debris. His only help at that moment was his neighbor, Dwain Easley. 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. But one thing I'm proud of. How do they know? One guy standing near the wreckage lit a cigarette and I tackled him," he said. But I couldn't stand it any longer. Billy Powell would be in the new starting line-up of Lynyrd Skynyrd until his death in 2009. He had been impaled by a part of the fuselage and it pushed through his body and projected out of his back. He needed to use their darkroom to get his photos out. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. 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 was just taken aback by it " but then his friend continued, "don't worry, Lynyrd made it out.". "Seems like everyone is writing a book. 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. Lynyrd Skynyrd was known for their hard-rocking style, driven by powerful guitars. Billy had taken too long on his intro to the song Free Bird and that didnt set well with Ronnie. Photo: thetv.info. Cassie Gaines was born on January 9, 1948 and died on October 20, 1977. 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. Photo: Pinterest. "We didn't know how much gas was on the ground. Circa 1975, Singers Cassie Gaines , Leslie Hawkins and Jo Jo Billingsley of the American rock group, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1970s. ", "There were plenty of old boys standing around here. Don't look like they can afford a ticket. And the hardest-working rock 'n' roll band in America was about to run out of gas. Headline from a local newspaper reporting the crash. So, with little hesitation I decided I should join the dance. Suffocating the people on the bottom from the sheer weight. Collins recovered and began performing again, eventually forming the Allen Collins Band. The sky is the limit for the talented actress. Johnny headed for the crash site to see if he could help. Its many hit songs include "Freebird," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps" and "Simple Man.". Throughout the ordeal, he remembers seeing the debris and suitcases scattered around, but he didn't think anything of it. 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 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). Johnny Mote and his ragtag team were first on the crash site. 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.). A plane crash left lead singer Ronnie Van Zandt, lead guitarist Steve Gaines and backup singer Cassie Gaines dead. But sadly when he drank, which was quite often, his demeanor and character qualities changed drastically. Photo: Pinterest. No discernable landmarks remained, save the creek bed. Dean Kilpatrick, the bands manager, lay dead and covered in blood. Some of the guys were playing poker. Gary Rossington broke both his arms and both his legs in the crash, and took many months to recuperate. 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. Crying, praying, and counting the dead to see who they would never hug, play music with, and enjoy company with again. I'm still not sure why. 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. Ben Gabel, of Denham Springs, is a former surveyor, and navigated to the scene from the official NTSB report, which includes the latitude and longitude. Collins, 37, suffered respiratory failure, said a Memorial Medical Center spokeswoman. So, we're both southerners.". His only help at that moment was his neighbor, Dwain Easley. It was Steve, and me, and Ronnie and I was in the middle of them. In addition to his fractured ribcage, Artimus Pyle was treated for numerous abrasions and contusions. 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. Gabel says he's been to the site 15 or more times. The original cover was restored after the 30th anniversary of the album. She was born on 9th January 1948 in Missouri, USA. Small and cramped, it still felt better than lift-off of the Convair CV-240. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. The aircraft was destroyed by impact; there was no fire. You have permission to edit this article. The pilot and co-pilot also died; 20 others aboard lived. Bianca is an American actress. Tremendous physical pain overwhelmed the group as did mental exhaustion. 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. 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. Other band members were injured, some very seriously. On hearing of the accident, Billingsley was so shaken that some of her hair fell out. At the time of her death she survived by her large extended friends and family. The only thing left was a trail of debris and people. 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. Losing daylight, the pilots desperately looked for an open field or some kind of saving grace. A Convair CV-240, similar to the one in the crash. Everyone on the flight, except for Ronnie Van Zant, was feeling uneasy and restless. Dean Kilpatrick, the bands manager, lay dead and covered in blood. The two men, for a while, were the only able-bodied persons present to help pull people from the wreckage. One band member, JoJo Billingsly, was not on the flight. But I loved the bonding. The band has been on tour, and dates through the weekend have been cancelled. These things don't happen here. It would take hours to remove the bodies of the dead and injured from the plane. 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. Freebird, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 10/20/77 and a notebook-sized rebel flag are deeply etched into the old bark. The death of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gains of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd was a massive blow to many. Skip to main content. 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. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. We just had released an album that went gold almost overnight. The plane had completely disintegrated. 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. She was brought up in Miami, Florida, alongside her brothers, Bob and Steve. Violent, wild, and belligerent, Ronnie was a force to be reckoned with. As the small band of brothers grew, the conversation grew lively but stayed reverent. July 30, 2001 -- Leon Wilkeson, bass player and founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, is dead at age 49. While the site is duly remembered, it is on private property and is not open to the public. She said her husband grabbed his .243 hunting rifle, ran out and fired a warning shot. 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. Especially Artimus, who had three broken ribs and multiple large cuts. The band was reaching fever pitch with its fans across the South and the nation. Rescue vehicles on the ground found no direct path in sight. It felt like being hit with baseball bats in a steel garbage can with the lid on. The album would go through several cover changes and would mark a new era for the guys. All the surrounding land is privately owned and prominently marked with "No Trespassing" signs. 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 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. Martin said she then, "called 911, or 0, or whatever we called back then.". Billy Powell would be in the new starting line-up of Lynyrd Skynyrd until his death in 2009. ", He reached up and pealed the split fuselage back and, with a flashlight, peered into the dark, jumbled mess of bodies. Mote fired a warning shot in the air. So we came out here and got busy. As the bulletins continued, they became more descriptive: "Tractors were pulling ambulances across a creek" was one exaggerated quote I remember so well. Wilkeson cheated death in 1977, surviving a crash of the band's chartered plane. 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. He hopes to publish in time for the 40th anniversary of the crash. His post noted that he and many others had made pilgrimages for years to the site to pay their respects. Rossington and keyboardist Billy Powell are now the only founding members in the band. Shining from what seemed to be a small house on a dairy farm. Some blame it on the planes age and poor design, weighing in on its smaller fuselage and compact wingspan. 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. 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. She was famous for being part of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Willing to lend a hand and stick by his bandmates, he was hard to beat when standing by your side. 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. Some were screaming and moaning for help, but they were all limp. Marc Frank remembers seeing complete and total despair. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. They were directing him to the property next to his family's farm. 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. The guys hit the dirt and yelling out with what they had left Hey! Part of the preparations required contacting landowners and securing permission to be there and a guide to lead me in. Pilot Walter. There were 24 passengers and two crew members aboard the aircraft. He is best known as a guitarist and backing vocalist with rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1976 until his death in the October 1977 airplane crash that claimed other band members and crew. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. All of the seats were ripped from the frame of the plane, landing in the front section of the crash. Pyle, Frank, and Peden were met with hostility when they finally came up to Mote. All of the seats were ripped from the frame of the plane, landing in the front section of the crash. Billy Powell, the bands keyboardist, received extensive facial lacerations and a broken right knee. The will to carry on was strong, however, Pyle being a US Marine, would live out the phrase Semper Fidelis which means always faithful. 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.". Lynyrd Skynyrd is no doubt an American staple in music and southern rock culture. Mote recalls the first thing he saw was a bloody hand sticking out from the wreckage. Unfortunately, their plane ran short of fuel. It was the last flight of Lynyrd Skynyrd: Oct. 20, 1977, the night they . Rock Musician. All reality had been broken and none of the surviving members would ever be the same or view life the same again. He was best known for being a Rock Singer. For another crash scene veteran, this was also his first return visit in 38 years. Lynyrd Skynyrd disbanded after the airplane tragedy. "I had expertise on what to do and growing up in Amite County, Mississippi didn't hurt. He had been hospitalized since September. However, other band members convinced her otherwise. The album had deeper meaning than most. Pianist Billy Powell survived, but his nose was nearly torn off and he suffered severe facial lacerations. "Folks were all mashed together. Ronnie Van Zant was just more than the bands main songwriter, frontman, and singer. 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. The rest of the group had no idea at the time that they would never see the face of Ronnie again. TBS - Movies for Guys Who Like Movies Bumper - The Jerk - 1996, TBS - Dinner & A Movie - Urban Cowboy Promo - 1995, TBS - Movies for Guys Who Like Movies - Running Scared Promo - 1995. The Vintage News Aerosmith Said No, Lynyrd Skynyrd Said Yes To The Plane. Photo: Pinterest. Varying accounts have Mote either firing a warning shot into the air or actually shooting Pyle in the shoulder no report is completely reliable. 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. ", "And everybody says they were the first one there. read another typical message of mourning. Leslie Hawkins sustained a concussion, broke her neck in three places and had severe facial lacerations. According to a Billboard report, he died of natural causes in his sleep. Marc Frank was beaten terribly and was also covered in lacerations and blood. Artimus Pyle, drummer for the band, stops for a quick picture while en route to the next show. Two of them were crew members, pilot Walter McReary and co-pilot William Gray, the rest were band members and roadies. Here are 10 facts about Lynyrd Skynyrd and their fateful end. 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. The other two members were JoJo Billingsley and Leslie Hawkins. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Among them were Lacy Van Zant, Ronnies Father, and .38 Specials Guitarist Dan Barnes. Click to reveal The band enjoyed national fame in the 1970s with such hits as Gimme Three Steps and Sweet Home Alabama.. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. 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. I'd deal with that later. The tree where the cockpit came to rest has long-since died. Ronnie had died instantly upon impact, his head slamming into a tree. Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and singer Cassie Gaines were all killed in the crash, and the . News had spread about the crash and before too long an estimated 3,000 people had swarmed to the crash site. He had been impaled by a part of the fuselage and it pushed through his body and projected out of his back.