No one that hit the ground alive died. Collins, 37, suffered respiratory failure, said a Memorial Medical Center spokeswoman. He rushed to his truck and headed in. It felt like being hit with baseball bats in a steel garbage can with the lid on. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. 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. 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, like me, was 21-years-old at the time. Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, Kilpatrick and the pilots were laid in a temporary morgue at a local high school gymnasium. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. 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. 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. 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. "Seems like everyone is writing a book. I can't remember," he said. A towering beech tree stands sentinel on the west side of the creek, carefully carved with scores of knurled epithets. Artimus Pyle, drummer for the band, stops for a quick picture while en route to the next show. 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 suffered severe internal injuries, including a punctured lung, and had most of his teeth knocked out. She was hesitant because she had seen a small fire in one of the engines the previous day. He had hunted squirrels along that very ridge. The album had deeper meaning than most. She died from excessive bleeding as her throat had been cut from ear to ear. On 20th October 1977, the Lynyrd Skynyrd boarded a chartered Convair CV-240 to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after their performance in Greenville, South Carolina. 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. Billy Powell would be in the new starting line-up of Lynyrd Skynyrd until his death in 2009. 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. I quickly maneuvered free of a crumpled bumper and sped off. 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. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Unfortunately, their plane ran short of fuel. ", He reached up and pealed the split fuselage back and, with a flashlight, peered into the dark, jumbled mess of bodies. 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 Mote recalls the first thing he saw was a bloody hand sticking out from the wreckage. How did Cassie Gaines of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd die? - Yen Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. Losing daylight, the pilots desperately looked for an open field or some kind of saving grace. Soon after the plane would begin to jerk and shake violently. "The first thing I saw was a bloody hand reaching out from the debris. 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. Circa 1975, Singers Cassie Gaines , Leslie Hawkins and Jo Jo Billingsley of the American rock group, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1970s. 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. Mote fired a warning shot in the air. 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. Gary Rossington, one of the bands guitar players, had suffered two broken arms, a broken leg, a punctured stomach and liver. There were 26 people on that fateful flight. That farm belonged to a young dairy farmer named Johnny Mote. When the group asked Ronnies father how he was, he simply replied Hes fine. 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. 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. Steven Earl Gaines (September 14, 1949 - October 20, 1977) was an American musician. He hopes to publish in time for the 40th anniversary of the crash. We always wondered why, you know. The surviving members would grapple with this throughout their days. 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. Without wanting to cause alarm he thought to himself that maybe the pilots were trying to transfer fuel from one engine to another. They all died but we didnt. 10 Details About the Fatal Plane Crash that Was the Death of Lynyrd Assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, the pilot, and co-pilot Walter McCreary and William Gray also died. ", Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. 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. Who died in the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash? Ronnies mother Marion refused to make the flight, after seeing a horrific plane crash of her own that killed 9 people. 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. 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. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. The plane was produced from 1947-1954. Bianca is a force to be reckoned with in the American film industry. Billy Powell would be in the new starting line-up of Lynyrd Skynyrd until his death in 2009. A spokesperson for the band's record label said Wilkeson died in his sleep Friday at a hotel near Jacksonville, Florida. It was there that he struck up a fractured conversation. Willing to lend a hand and stick by his bandmates, he was hard to beat when standing by your side. Powell's nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. He could hear the people moaning, pleading for help. 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. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Where Did We Find This Stuff? "They'd busted bales of hay in the bed to soften the ride," he said. "New Orleans is a southern city. Birthday: January 9, 1948. Everyone knows him as "Governor." Sooner Guitarist's Music Lives On Even in Death - The Oklahoman Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. Totaled, decimated, and left for dead. Marc Frank, a 24-year-old roadie traveling with the band, noticed what seemed to be fuel spewing from the right engine. Collect, curate and comment on your files. I used my camera in my work. Minutes later he was guiding an ambulance through an overgrown trail. All reality had been broken and none of the surviving members would ever be the same or view life the same again. Cassie Gaines Lynard Skynyrd plane crash was one of the band's most challenging moments. Van Zant died instantly of blunt force trauma to the head. She was planning to join the tour in Little Rock on October 23, three days after the crash. Don't look like they can afford a ticket. 10 Details About the Fatal Plane Crash that Was the Death of Lynyrd I was not there to be a gawker or to get in the way. After claiming his deceased son, Lacy Van Zant went to visit the other members of the band at the hospital. His wife, Lola, and my wife grew up together. Ultimate Classic Rock What Happened to the Survivors of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash? Cassie Gaines Death Fact Check, Birthday & Date of Death - Dead or Kicking She was famous for being part of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. He needed to use their darkroom to get his photos out. It sounded great to us. Photo: hu.wikipedia.com. He drove down from his home in Oakland, Miss. But sadly when he drank, which was quite often, his demeanor and character qualities changed drastically. But one thing I'm proud of. The cover would quickly be changed to a more bland blacked-out background with the band in the same pose after the accident. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. 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. He was known as Papa Ronnie. Especially Artimus, who had three broken ribs and multiple large cuts. We beat patterns into our dashboards drumming out the beat. Band members Artimus Pyle and Billy Powell entered the cockpit to get an idea of what was happening. 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. He knew those woods well. Despite this faux pas, Powell has been on good terms with the remaining band members since the incident. Cassie joined the team and became one of the three members of The Honkette's, a female gospel vocal trio of Lynyrd Skynyrd. I marked my calendar and made arrangements. I worked the scene for about 30 minutes before a veteran photographer approached me and asked if I knew where the local paper "The Enterprise Journal" was located. Cassie was buried in Orange Park, Florida, together with her brother, Steve Gains. A plane crash left lead singer Ronnie Van Zandt, lead guitarist Steve Gaines and backup singer Cassie Gaines dead. When he was sober, he was a fair and kind person. Cassie Larue Gaines was an American singer. He was known as Papa Ronnie. 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. 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. In addition to his fractured ribcage, Artimus Pyle was treated for numerous abrasions and contusions. Allen Collins, who lost fellow members of the rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd in a 1977 plane crash and was paralyzed four years ago in a drunken driving accident, died Tuesday of pneumonia. Cassie Gaines Wiki, Biography, Age, Career, Relationship, Net Worth One of the three men was the band's drummer Artimus Pyle, who yelled, "Plane crash." Aerosmiths management passed on the opportunity to call this plane their own. Wilkeson cheated death in 1977, surviving a crash of the band's chartered plane. 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. Ultimate Classic Rock What Happened to the Survivors of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash? All the surrounding land is privately owned and prominently marked with "No Trespassing" signs. He was a walking treasure trove of names, facts and figures. 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). The band was reaching fever pitch with its fans across the South and the nation. You have permission to edit this article. 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. Natural causes were to blame. And it left Teresa Gaines a widow. For another crash scene veteran, this was also his first return visit in 38 years. she asked me as we talked. 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. 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. In 1986, his car ran off a road and crashed into a culvert, paralyzing him from the waist down and killing his girlfriend. 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. Several members of the band died in a plane crash that occurred on October 20, 1977, three days after the release of Street Survivors. Powell also claimed that Ronnie Van Zant's head had been smashed. Crying, praying, and counting the dead to see who they would never hug, play music with, and enjoy company with again. McDaniel was eager to join me. 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. But I couldn't stand it any longer. From the commercial hits of Free Bird and Simple Man to less mainstream songs like The Needle And The Spoon and T Is For Texas, Lynyrd Skynyrd and their driving southern sound quickly cut their way to the top of the charts and into the hearts of many across the states and around the world. All of the seats were ripped from the frame of the plane, landing in the front section of the crash. The death of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gains of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd was a massive blow to many. 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.". Other band members were injured, some very seriously. Posted and no trespassing signs are prominently displayed. The plane finally slammed into the earth, and Billy Powell recalls saying, We hit the trees at approximately 90 mph. Cassie Gaines Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements The album had a very controversial cover when released. The other two members were JoJo Billingsley and Leslie Hawkins. It was the last flight of Lynyrd Skynyrd: Oct. 20, 1977, the night they . Pyle, Frank, and Peden were met with hostility when they finally came up to Mote. Ronnies mother Marion refused to make the flight, after seeing a horrific plane crash of her own that killed 9 people. By then, a Coast Guard helicopter was hovering overhead. Gabel says he's been to the site 15 or more times. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. He says he first came in the 80s after he graduated. The album had two notable songs: Whats your name and That Smell. Band confidant, Gene Odum, is privately interviewed to share his story on what happened on this awful day in history. Powells nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. 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 Last Flight of Lynyrd Skynyrd It Was the Day the Music Died 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. They were scheduled to perform at the Louisiana State University. 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. Shining from what seemed to be a small house on a dairy farm. Suffocating the people on the bottom from the sheer weight. We just had released an album that went gold almost overnight. After claiming his deceased son, Lacy Van Zant went to visit the other members of the band at the hospital. Tangled by underbrush and the 20-foot creek, the rescue team had to act and think fast. But soon, the helicopters that were heard and seen previously were on the scene. A costly mistake at 9,000ft or so. As they, too, were succumbing to the sub-par standards of the plane and crew. 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. I grabbed my camera and jumped in the car. Coincidence? Suffocating the people on the bottom from the sheer weight. Medical personnel arrived and began to ferry out the injured and the dead. . 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. And to Brenda's point, he's writing a book. A little after the two-hour mark, however, events started to unfold that would soon make history. Lynyrd Skynyrd stops for a shot in 1973. Both of which helped the album climb to the No. I knew I had no business going, and my wife told me so.