"It was the saddest thing," she recalls, 11 years later. Wilkeson suffered severe internal injuries, including a punctured lung, and had most of his teeth knocked out. 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 will to carry on was strong, however, Pyle being a US Marine, would live out the phrase Semper Fidelis which means always faithful. According to a Billboard report, he died of natural causes in his sleep. Some blame it on the planes age and poor design, weighing in on its smaller fuselage and compact wingspan. 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. Skip to main content. The tail section broke off, the cockpit broke off and buckled underneath, then both wings broke off. He obtained his first guitar at about age 14. Billy Powell, the bands keyboardist, received extensive facial lacerations and a broken right knee. But one thing I'm proud of. Any debris left on the ground has long been buried. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. I was not there to be a gawker or to get in the way. Photo: Uncle Johns Bathroom Reader. He didn't know who the victims were. Their lyrics were raw and fresh - honest and simple. 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 recovered and began performing again, eventually forming the Allen Collins Band. memorial page for Cassie LaRue Hatfield Gaines (26 Nov 1926-15 Feb 1979), Find a Grave Memorial ID 37010431, citing Jacksonville Memory . He could hear the people moaning, pleading for help. It felt like being hit with baseball bats in a steel garbage can with the lid on. 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. I had never seen anything like it before. But I couldn't stand it any longer. She was requested to join the band as a backing vocalist. Dwain Easley still lives on the east side of the crash site. The pilots tried an emergency landing, but the plane crashed in the woods near Gillsburg in Mississippi. Collins and other band members were severely injured. A medical examiner said on Sunday that Wilkeson suffered from chronic liver and lung disease, and most likely died of natural causes. The album would go through several cover changes and would mark a new era for the guys. 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. He pulled the lifeless body of Cassie Gaines up by her belt. 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. It was there that he struck up a fractured conversation. Leslie Hawkins sustained a concussion, broke her neck in three places and had severe facial lacerations. Allen Collins kept moving on, eventually getting together with Gary Rossington to form the Rossington Collins Band. The news was shocking -- a plane crash near my hometown of McComb, Miss. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. to gather a few more. A tragic scene no person would ever wish to see or soon forget. 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. One of them being completely decapitated. Billy Powell, the bands keyboardist, received extensive facial lacerations and a broken right knee. It was going to be the replacement for Douglas C3s with a pressurized cabin that was then just being mandated as a rule for commercial airlines. Johnny Mote and his ragtag team were first on the crash site. However, it is believed that the pilots were trying to transfer oil from one engine to another when they accidentally jettisoned the fuel instead. 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. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. He also knew I had no business there, but his face told me he knew I was beginning a new career that night. Before joining the music band, she was an original cast member of a school play under Hairspray. 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. Road crew member Steve Lawler, who suffered severe contusions and facial lacerations, was taken to the hospital in a pickup with a camper top. Rock Musician. Some blame it on the planes age and poor design, weighing in on its smaller fuselage and compact wingspan. "I'd never seen anything like that," he said. Mote fired a warning shot in the air. However, they were apparently talked into using it just one more time which happened to be their last ride. Mote was putting out square bales of hay for the cattle when he heard what sounded "like a car crash on a gravel road." Aerosmiths band management at the time was looking at a Convair CV-240. 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. "They stopped, straight back there," he said, and pointed to the tree line a quarter mile across open hay fields and woods. A Convair CV-240. We knew every word. I've not looked at them since. Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash site draws a pilgrimage. Ultimate Classic Rock What Happened to the Survivors of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash? ", "I never cared about flying in an airplane," he said. Cassie joined the team and became one of the three members of The Honkette's, a female gospel vocal trio of Lynyrd Skynyrd. 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. As we talked, we heard a racket through the trees. Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. Almost as mysteriously, the full bottle is never seen again. Both of which helped the album climb to the No. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. 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. Tremendous physical pain overwhelmed the group as did mental exhaustion. The plane had a thinner fuselage and smaller wingspan than any of its kind at the time. Several members of the band died in a plane crash that occurred on October 20, 1977, three days after the release of Street Survivors. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. I used my camera in my work. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2fad0cc830fa72 "Sweet Home Alabama" became the southern anthem for millions. Cassie was buried in Orange Park, Florida, together with her brother, Steve Gains. He was best known for being a Rock Singer. I grabbed my camera and jumped in the car. News had spread about the crash and before too long an estimated 3,000 people had swarmed to the crash site. 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. Artimus Pyle and Gary Rossington are the only two members alive today from the crash. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. When he was sober, he was a fair and kind person. From left to right: Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant, And Gary Rossington. 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. Photo: Pinterest. Cassie Gaines Death: and Cause of Death. Ronnie Van Zant enjoying a stog before a show. Crying, praying, and counting the dead to see who they would never hug, play music with, and enjoy company with again. 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. It is reported that the pilots whose eyes were full of terror, told them to go back to their seats and prepare for impact. Powells nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. ", "He came home covered in blood," said his wife, Lola. Circa 1975, Singers Cassie Gaines , Leslie Hawkins and Jo Jo Billingsley of the American rock group, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1970s. Varying accounts have Mote either firing a warning shot into the air or actually shooting Pyle in the shoulder no report is completely reliable. "Why, yes I do," I said, thinking about my roots, my old buddies and the high school dances. It is reported that the pilots whose eyes were full of terror, told them to go back to their seats and prepare for impact. I couldn't stand it. The reason behind this? 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. That farm belonged to a young dairy farmer named Johnny Mote. At the time of her death, she was 29 years old. As he looked around the scene, his mind went back. But there wasn't any gas on the ground because they ran out of gas.". 5 album. There were 26 people on that fateful flight. "It was a lot wetter that night. One of the three men was the band's drummer Artimus Pyle, who yelled, "Plane crash." Artimus Pyle, drummer for the band, stops for a quick picture while en route to the next show. Billy had taken too long on his intro to the song Free Bird and that didnt set well with Ronnie. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. "He (Mote) ran in the door saying, 'Ya'll get down on the floor, there's escaped convicts out there," Martin remembers. 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. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. They all died but we didnt. 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. His post noted that he and many others had made pilgrimages for years to the site to pay their respects. Who died in the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash? Owners emphasize that trespassers can be prosecuted. Among them were Lacy Van Zant, Ronnies Father, and .38 Specials Guitarist Dan Barnes. 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. "They'd busted bales of hay in the bed to soften the ride," he said. We were shocked, as were most others hearing the news. Pilot Walter. Wilkeson would eventually be found dead in a hotel room in 2001 at age 49. 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 rushed to his truck and headed in. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. The whole scene tore him apart. As the bulletins continued, they became more descriptive: "Tractors were pulling ambulances across a creek" was one exaggerated quote I remember so well. 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 years after the crash would be difficult in its own right for surviving members, most of which would experience tragedy and early death themselves. . Collect, curate and comment on your files. 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. A costly mistake at 9,000ft or so. Pyle, Frank, and Peden were met with hostility when they finally came up to Mote. He says he first came in the 80s after he graduated. Marc Frank, a 24-year-old roadie traveling with the band, noticed what seemed to be fuel spewing from the right engine. Rudge chartered three planes for loved ones to identify the bodies. According to the bands autobiography, Zunk Buker, Aerosmiths chief of flight operations manager, was inspecting the plane and the crew before they pulled the trigger. ", "There were plenty of old boys standing around here. I photographed their wedding. 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. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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. Victims were taken to the hospital in McComb, Mississippi by ambulances and other vehicles. "I've been coming for years," he said, "and I've never met anyone who was here that night. Click to reveal We always wondered why, you know. The surviving members would grapple with this throughout their days. The next morning I looked over them, made a few small prints and forgot about them. 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. 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. 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. The medical examiner reported that Wilkeson suffered from liver and lung disease at the time of his death. "Are you writing a book?" When he was sober, he was a fair and kind person. 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. Especially Artimus, who had three broken ribs and multiple large cuts. Coincidence? "They seemed to be chasing him, trying to flag him down. Making the original release cover more valuable to collectors than the second cover released just a few weeks after the album hit the shelves. 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. It was rumored that it was Ed Kings (original guitar player for Lynyrd Skynyrd) wife but it was not confirmed. Los Angeles, Billie Eilishs phone is now internet-free: Im like: Ew! ", "And everybody says they were the first one there. So, with little hesitation I decided I should join the dance. For many years, a dozen red roses have been carefully placed around the base, much like the mysterious unfinished bottle of Martell cognac at the grave of Edgar Allen Poe in Baltimore. At the time of her death she survived by her large extended friends and family. In the ensuing chaos, souvenir hunters took billfolds, jewelry, suitcases, band merchandise and even chunks of metal from the crash site. A few minutes later I was talking my way past a Mississippi State trooper. Performance & security by Cloudflare. He drove down from his home in Oakland, Miss. Pilot Walter McCrearey and co-pilot John Grey were killed on impact. Rescue vehicles on the ground found no direct path in sight. Video of a barechested Pyle at the 1979 Volunteer Jam does not show evidence of a gunshot wound. His first band recorded its debut at Sun Recording Studio in Memphis, and later bands included RIO Smokehouse and Rusty Day. 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. 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. The Vintage News Aerosmith Said No, Lynyrd Skynyrd Said Yes To The Plane. He had hunted squirrels along that very ridge. Guitarists Allen Collins and Steve Gaines, Honkette Leslie Hawkins, bassist Leon Wilkeson, Honkettes Cassie Gaines and JoJo Billingsley, and. It sounded great to us. He could see the circling helicopter from his back yard. There is some speculation as to why the second engine had ultimately failed. Mote recalls the first thing he saw was a bloody hand sticking out from the wreckage. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. Ronnie Van Zant enjoying a stog before a show. Sadly, the band would not make it to Baton Rouge and the plane had been pushed one flight too many. 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 only thing left was a trail of debris and people. And to Brenda's point, he's writing a book. I quickly maneuvered free of a crumpled bumper and sped off. On several occasions, the latter shined through. There have been several different theories as to the culprits of this . The album cover depicted the band members in an alleyway covered in flames. Home; Memorials; Cemeteries; Famous; Contribute; Register; Sign In; Register; Sign In; . A tragic scene no person would ever wish to see or soon forget. He needed to use their darkroom to get his photos out. 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. He later caused a controversy by giving a lurid account of Cassie Gaines' final moments on a VH1 Behind The Music special about the band, claiming that the backing singer's throat was cut from ear to ear and that she bled to death in his arms. Ronnie Van Zant was just more than the bands main songwriter, frontman, and singer. I told him that it was the strongest thing I had seen a man do.. 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. Assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, the pilot, and co-pilot Walter McCreary and William Gray also died. Gene Odom, Lynyrd Skynyrds bodyguard, recalls: They took my watch, my wallet, my ring, and my money as I lay bleeding on the ground. Violent, wild, and belligerent, Ronnie was a force to be reckoned with. The band regularly has different people sit in and play shows with them like Warren Haynes and Dicky Betts. The three injured men hiked some distance from the crash site, through swampy woods, and finally flagged down farmer Johnny Mote, who had come to investigate. Rossington and keyboardist Billy Powell are now the only founding members in the band. Losing daylight, the pilots desperately looked for an open field or some kind of saving grace. 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. How do they know? In addition to his fractured ribcage, Artimus Pyle was treated for numerous abrasions and contusions.