It would take hours to remove the bodies of the dead and injured from the plane. Even though she survived the actual crash, she eventually bled to death before the rescue team could reach her. When the group asked Ronnies father how he was, he simply replied Hes fine. Easley knows he wasn't the first on the site, but he was there early. I began the classic guitar lick. He was only 39, but was no rookie. Lynyrd Skynyrd was known for their hard-rocking style, driven by powerful guitars. A little after the two-hour mark, however, events started to unfold that would soon make history. Its many hit songs include "Freebird," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps" and "Simple Man.". Mother of Lynyrd Skynyrd members Cassie Gaines and Steve Gaines. Contributing to the fuel exhaustion were inadequate flight planning and an engine malfunction of undetermined nature in the engine which resulted in higher than normal fuel consumption.". 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. "That solidified that idea. That farm belonged to a young dairy farmer named Johnny Mote. The news was shocking -- a plane crash near my hometown of McComb, Miss. 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. One such silent witness has found a way to talk. Marc Frank remembers seeing complete and total despair. As the three marched on, feet soaking wet from the water, all odds seemed stacked against the trio. Rudge chartered three planes for loved ones to identify the bodies. On 20th October 1977, the Lynyrd Skynyrd boarded a chartered Convair CV-240 to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after their performance in Greenville, South Carolina. Soon after the plane would begin to jerk and shake violently. That's when Mote connected the dots with the noise he had heard earlier. We love you!!!" "Steve was at the peak of his career. "Yes, your right," I said, slightly amused. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. [2] 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. For another crash scene veteran, this was also his first return visit in 38 years. Rudge chartered three planes for loved ones to identify the bodies. Born Steven Earl Gaines, the son of Cassie Hatfield and Earl Gaines. 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. Bianca is an American actress. Her mother passed away on 15th February 1979 in a car accident. Updated cover after plane crash, 1977The official NTSB accident report reads, "The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of this accident was fuel exhaustion and total loss of power from both engines due to crew inattention to fuel supply. The albums that followed featured a plain black background. Unfortunately, their plane ran short of fuel. The pilots would have to make an emergency landing. The rest of the group had no idea at the time that they would never see the face of Ronnie again. The pilots were still in their seats, but were laying upside down in nearby trees. He had been impaled by a part of the fuselage and it pushed through his body and projected out of his back. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2fad0cc830fa72 A towering beech tree stands sentinel on the west side of the creek, carefully carved with scores of knurled epithets. Cause of death: Car accident. Everyone just stood there helpless. She was famous for being part of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Artimus has had many ups and downs since then, several incarcerations, and a huge falling out with Gary. We just had released an album that went gold almost overnight. Here are 10 facts about Lynyrd Skynyrd and their fateful end. 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. Leon Wilkeson and Billy Powell would both go on to pursue other musical ventures and both have a hand in several Lynyrd Skynyrd re-boots. Allen's wife would bleed to death due to a miscarriage. He then assembled a convoy of trucks and four-wheelers to locate the crash site and rescue the survivors. A little after the two-hour mark, however, events started to unfold that would soon make history. Skip to main content. I couldn't stand it. Cassie Larue Gaines was an American singer. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. "May the free bird fly on," read one message. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. "Why, yes I do," I said, thinking about my roots, my old buddies and the high school dances. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. The band would be marked for strife as just before their inaugural tour, Allens wife would bleed to death due to a miscarriage. Cassie Gaines mother was LaRue, while her father was Bud. In the beginning, the singer was reluctant to board the aircraft and had already bought another commercial flight ticket. Governor said, "I'm bad about leaving an empty beer bottle and a full one for Ronnie and the boys" each year. 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. As we walked, Easely pointed to a towering pine. 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. Band members Artimus Pyle and Billy Powell entered the cockpit to get an idea of what was happening. Three crew members died in a plane crash just three days after the release of their 5th album. Cassie joined the team and became one of the three members of The Honkette's, a female gospel vocal trio of Lynyrd Skynyrd. 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. And the hardest-working rock 'n' roll band in America was about to run out of gas. 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. But soon, the helicopters that were heard and seen previously were on the scene. Photo: Pinterest. Cassie was buried in Orange Park, Florida, together with her brother, Steve Gains. He had been hospitalized since September. Sang background vocals (one of the Honkettes) for Lynyrd Skynyrd. The two men, for a while, were the only able-bodied persons present to help pull people from the wreckage. 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. There have been several different theories as to the culprits of this unfortunate crashing that point the finger toward watcher by Artimus, as well as the pilots of the plane themselves. 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. Gary continues on the band with Ronnies brother, Johnny Van Zant, and guitarist Ricky Medlocke. Mote fired a warning shot in the air. Ultimate Classic Rock What Happened to the Survivors of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash? Artimus Pyle, drummer for the band, stops for a quick picture while en route to the next show. Billy Powell, the bands keyboardist, received extensive facial lacerations and a broken right knee. "I've been coming for years," he said, "and I've never met anyone who was here that night. 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. A medical examiner said on Sunday that Wilkeson suffered from chronic liver and lung disease, and most likely died of natural causes. Gary Rossington, one of the bands guitar players, had suffered two broken arms, a broken leg, a punctured stomach and liver. Rossington and keyboardist Billy Powell are now the only founding members in the band. Birthday: January 9, 1948. The album would go through several cover changes and would mark a new era for the guys. His wife, Lola, and my wife grew up together. Despite this faux pas, Powell has been on good terms with the remaining band members since the incident. Pianist Billy Powell survived, but his nose was nearly torn off and he suffered severe facial lacerations. "They seemed to be chasing him, trying to flag him down. It was there where he was found dead in his room on July 27. 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. The guys hit the dirt and yelling out with what they had left Hey! He needed to use their darkroom to get his photos out. "Are you writing a book?" Street Survivors was released just three days before the crash and would quickly become a hit. As he looked around the scene, his mind went back. The band regularly has different people sit in and play shows with them like Warren Haynes and Dicky Betts. Performance & security by Cloudflare. 137.184.228.194 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. On October 20, 1977, Cassie Gaines died of non-communicable disease. 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. For members Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, the weight of what happened seemed to push down on them the most. I put them all to work. She was born on 9th January 1948 in Missouri, USA. The plane had completely disintegrated. "Sweet Home Alabama" became the southern anthem for millions. Artimus Pyle and Gary Rossington are the only two members alive today from the crash. Leslie Hawkins sustained a concussion, broke her neck in three places and had severe facial lacerations. "It was a lot wetter that night. What happened to the Menendez brothers' money? As the bulletins continued, they became more descriptive: "Tractors were pulling ambulances across a creek" was one exaggerated quote I remember so well. 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. 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. Truth be known, after 38 years, Martin is a little tired of talking about the whole thing. Small and cramped, it still felt better than lift-off of the Convair CV-240. It was rumored that it was Ed Kings (original guitar player for Lynyrd Skynyrd) wife but it was not confirmed. to gather a few more. How did Cassie Gaines get in Lynyrd Skynyrd? . 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. Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, Kilpatrick and the pilots were laid in a temporary morgue at a local high school gymnasium. Cassie was 29 years old at the time of death. Wilkeson would eventually be found dead in a hotel room in 2001 at age 49. Two of them were crew members, pilot Walter McReary and co-pilot William Gray, the rest were band members and roadies. The rest of the group had no idea at the time that they would never see the face of Ronnie again. Both brother and sister were killed in the airplane crash that also took the life of Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist Ronnie Van Zant. Pyle used the couple's phone to call his wife. She was brought up in Miami, Florida, alongside her brothers, Bob and Steve. Your IP: By then, a Coast Guard helicopter was hovering overhead. If a band couldn't play Skynyrd, they didn't get hired for the school dance. (Photo by Ted Jackson). 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 album had deeper meaning than most. 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. Billy Powell would be in the new starting line-up of Lynyrd Skynyrd until his death in 2009. As we walked through the woods, Governor and I agree that nothing looked or felt the same. He suffered a heart attack . Photo: thetv.info. Cassie Gaines was born on January 9, 1948 and died on October 20, 1977. 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. Losing daylight, the pilots desperately looked for an open field or some kind of saving grace. Mote was putting out square bales of hay for the cattle when he heard what sounded "like a car crash on a gravel road." Marc Frank, a 24-year-old roadie traveling with the band, noticed what seemed to be fuel spewing from the right engine. Gene Odom, Lynyrd Skynyrds bodyguard, recalls: They took my watch, my wallet, my ring, and my money as I lay bleeding on the ground. He, like me, was 21-years-old at the time. It is a cautionary song about drug abuse that fans believed was aimed at one of the members. The band leased a new Convair CV-240 to help them get between shows easier. The official report of the crash read: "The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determines 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 next morning I looked over them, made a few small prints and forgot about them. A tragic scene no person would ever wish to see or soon forget. Home; Memorials; Cemeteries; Famous; Contribute; Register; Sign In; Register; Sign In; . July 30, 2001 -- Leon Wilkeson, bass player and founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, is dead at age 49. 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. "New Orleans is a southern city. ", But with no experience he morphed from a dairy farmer to a rescuer. One guy standing near the wreckage lit a cigarette and I tackled him," he said. However, it is believed that the pilots were trying to transfer oil from one engine to another when they accidentally jettisoned the fuel instead. You have permission to edit this article. Especially with the song That Smell. 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. Small and cramped, it still felt better than lift-off of the Convair CV-240. Totaled, decimated, and left for dead. Lynyrd Skynyrd did not plan on keeping the plane for long. 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. As the three marched on, feet soaking wet from the water, all odds seemed stacked against the trio. 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. Crying, praying, and counting the dead to see who they would never hug, play music with, and enjoy company with again. 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.