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. Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed in 1987, and has been touring and recording steadily ever since with Johnny Van Zant, brother of the late Ronnie, as lead singer. He was known as Papa Ronnie. Rock Musician. Pilots Walter McCreary and William Gray were fully aware of a fuel shortage before the flight took off. 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). I quickly maneuvered free of a crumpled bumper and sped off. Photo: Uncle Johns Bathroom Reader. Dean Kilpatrick, the bands manager, lay dead and covered in blood. Mother of Lynyrd Skynyrd members Cassie Gaines and Steve Gaines. It would also be the first album that guitarist Steve Gaines would be the sole guitar player on. Bianca is an American actress. The only thing left was a trail of debris and people. Small and cramped, it still felt better than lift-off of the Convair CV-240. 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. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. 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 singer was approached by artist JoJo Billingsley, sent by the band's head and lead vocalist, Ronnie Van Zant. A spokesperson for the band's record label said Wilkeson died in his sleep Friday at a hotel near Jacksonville, Florida. Cassie Gaines was a talented and committed backup singer for the Lynard Skynyrd music band until she died in a plane crash. 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. Sadly, the band would not make it to Baton Rouge and the plane had been pushed one flight too many. He was best known for being a Rock Singer. 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. Lynyrd Skynyrd stops for a shot in 1973. 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. The official cause of death will be announced after toxicology test results come back in two to three weeks. 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 band regularly has different people sit in and play shows with them like Warren Haynes and Dicky Betts. "It was a lot wetter that night. 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. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. Birth Name: Cassie LaRue Gaines Occupation: Rock Singer Place Of Birth: Missouri Date Of Birth: January 9, 1948 Date Of Death: October 20, 1977 Cause Of Death: N/A Ethnicity: White Nationality: American Cassie Gaines was born on the 9th of January, 1948. Photo: hu.wikipedia.com. 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. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Even though she survived the actual crash, she eventually bled to death before the rescue team could reach her. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. Lynyrd Skynyrd is no doubt an American staple in music and southern rock culture. That's when Mote connected the dots with the noise he had heard earlier. Willing to lend a hand and stick by his bandmates, he was hard to beat when standing by your side. 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. Was there a guest book?". The Vintage News Aerosmith Said No, Lynyrd Skynyrd Said Yes To The Plane. Cassie Gaines died on the 20 th of October, 1977 in a plane crash at Gillsburg, Mississippi when she was only 29 years old. Artimus Pyle, drummer for the band, stops for a quick picture while en route to the next show. 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. Both of which helped the album climb to the No. Street Survivors was released just three days before the crash and would quickly become a hit. They were scheduled to perform at the Louisiana State University. One of them being completely decapitated. These things don't happen here. 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. He remembered seeing bodies everywhere. 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. One band member, JoJo Billingsly, was not on the flight. ", He reached up and pealed the split fuselage back and, with a flashlight, peered into the dark, jumbled mess of bodies. The crash killed singer/songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist/vocalist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray. 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. By then, a Coast Guard helicopter was hovering overhead. The death of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gains of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd was a massive blow to many. They all died but we didnt. she asked me as we talked. Born Steven Earl Gaines, the son of Cassie Hatfield and Earl Gaines. Cassie was 29 years old at the time of death. 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. 2023 Getty Images. Almost four decades later, I noticed a seemingly innocuous post on Facebook. 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. The album had two notable songs: Whats your name and That Smell. A tragic scene no person would ever wish to see or soon forget. 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. Medical personnel arrived and began to ferry out the injured and the dead. 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 tail section broke off, the cockpit broke off and buckled underneath, then both wings broke off. 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. His post noted that he and many others had made pilgrimages for years to the site to pay their respects. 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. "I'd never seen anything like that," he said. 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. Another 20 were injured, which included keyboardist Billy Powell, guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, drummer Artimus Pyle and bassist Leon Wilkeson. Soon after the plane would begin to jerk and shake violently. His first impression was, "What is a bunch of hippies doing on an airplane? Violent, wild, and belligerent, Ronnie was a force to be reckoned with. 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. 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. 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. 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. Lynyrd Skynyrd did not plan on keeping the plane for long. Then on the other side, it was Allen in the middle of Dean and Cassie. The rest of the group had no idea at the time that they would never see the face of Ronnie again. 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. I was a young graphic artist at the time. Three crew members died in a plane crash just three days after the release of their 5th album. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. The pilot and co-pilot also died; 20 others aboard lived. I knew I had no business going, and my wife told me so. The band has sold an estimated 35 million records. As a member of the Civil Air Patrol on that fateful night, he heard the report of a plane crash over the citizens band radio. At the end of the day, Ronnie and the boys are gone and we lost a rock n roll angel on October 20, 1977. 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. These combinations of poorly built aircraft and less than acceptable crew quickly led to the dismissal of the band leasing out their services. Governor said, "I'm bad about leaving an empty beer bottle and a full one for Ronnie and the boys" each year. 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. McDaniel was eager to join me. Your IP: Mike Rounsaville also arrived in the jeep with Dr. Lewis. Artimus has had many ups and downs since then, several incarcerations, and a huge falling out with Gary. Collins entered the hospital with pneumonia symptoms and was in a coma the last few days, said longtime friend Ann Thompson. Everyone was afraid of riding on this plane. The band buckled in. 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. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. I threw it in reverse and plowed into my mother-in-law's car. Posted and no trespassing signs are prominently displayed. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Powell also claimed that Ronnie Van Zant's head had been smashed. In 1986, his car ran off a road and crashed into a culvert, paralyzing him from the waist down and killing his girlfriend. The plane had completely disintegrated. Ronnie Van Zant was just more than the bands main songwriter, frontman, and singer. 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. 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. Cassie Gaines Wikipedia; Sponsored Links. Artimus Pyle, drummer for the band, stops for a quick picture while en route to the next show. 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 pilots were still in their seats, but were laying upside down in nearby trees. We always wondered why, you know. The surviving members would grapple with this throughout their days. It was there where he was found dead in his room on July 27. 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. Pyle, Frank, and Peden were met with hostility when they finally came up to Mote. Most of the 20 survivors were taken to Southwest Regional Medical Center in McComb, where the lobby had been transformed into a makeshift emergency treatment center to quickly deal with the onslaught of plane crash victims. 5 spot, it was the bands first No. On 20th October 1977, the Lynyrd Skynyrd boarded a chartered Convair CV-240 to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after their performance in Greenville, South Carolina. Marc Frank recalled hearing both engines on the plane then within a matter of minutes, just air passing over the cabin. Ultimate Classic Rock What Happened to the Survivors of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash? Who died in the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash? When he was sober, he was a fair and kind person. In 1977, lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Stevie Gaines and Gaines sister, Cassie Gaines, were killed in a plane crash. 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. As we walked through the woods, Governor and I agree that nothing looked or felt the same. Crying, praying, and counting the dead to see who they would never hug, play music with, and enjoy company with again. 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. Where Did We Find This Stuff? 137.184.228.194 Artimus Pyle was also notoriously outspoken against the plane and on several occasions would take buses to shows. He suffered a heart attack while on break from tour. Cassie joined the team and became one of the three members of The Honkette's, a female gospel vocal trio of Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was a walking treasure trove of names, facts and figures. The tail section broke off, the cockpit broke off and buckled underneath, then both wings broke off. As we walked, Easely pointed to a towering pine. Johnny Mote and his ragtag team were first on the crash site. "If (that tree) could talk, it'd tell you all about it," he said. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Without wanting to cause alarm he thought to himself that maybe the pilots were trying to transfer fuel from one engine to another. Powell's nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. The reason behind this? Everyone on the flight, except for Ronnie Van Zant, was feeling uneasy and restless. From left to right: Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant, And Gary Rossington. 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. Photo: obviousmag.org. When the group asked Ronnies father how he was, he simply replied Hes fine. The band buckled in. Gary continues on the band with Ronnies brother, Johnny Van Zant, and guitarist Ricky Medlocke. 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. But soon, the helicopters that were heard and seen previously were on the scene. We beat patterns into our dashboards drumming out the beat. "They'd busted bales of hay in the bed to soften the ride," he said. He suffered a heart attack . News had spread about the crash and before too long an estimated 3,000 people had swarmed to the crash site. 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. 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. On October 20, 1977, Cassie Gaines died of non-communicable disease. I knew I could take photographs if I could get there. The other band members Collins, Gary Rossington, Wilkeson, Powell, Artimus Pyle, and Hawkins, tour manager Ron Eckerman, and several road crew suffered . 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. One of them being completely decapitated. It was rumored that it was Ed Kings (original guitar player for Lynyrd Skynyrd) wife but it was not confirmed. Marc Frank, a 24-year-old roadie traveling with the band, noticed what seemed to be fuel spewing from the right engine. 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. Among them were Lacy Van Zant, Ronnies Father, and .38 Specials Guitarist Dan Barnes. Thats when most of the sober members of the band saw that the right propeller was no longer working. There were 26 people on that fateful flight. The Vintage News Aerosmith Said No, Lynyrd Skynyrd Said Yes To The Plane. Some were screaming and moaning for help, but they were all limp. The album had a very controversial cover when released. I told him that it was the strongest thing I had seen a man do.. 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. I didn't know where this was going. "But using a phone out here is worthless," he said, and even with his expertise, he had trouble finding the exact spot of the crash site. This year there were no red roses, but a freshly carved "R.J." stood out with red paint enhancement. Tuesday October 20, 2015 marked the 38th anniversary and drew several veterans from the night of the crash. 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. She said her husband grabbed his .243 hunting rifle, ran out and fired a warning shot. A Convair CV-240, similar to the one in the crash. She performed as a backup singer in popular hits such as One More Time and That Smell. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. 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). Collins recovered and began performing again, eventually forming the Allen Collins Band. The guys hit the dirt and yelling out with what they had left Hey! The cover would quickly be changed to a more bland blacked-out background with the band in the same pose after the accident. I had not realized before, but he also was there that night. I knew my camera had stories to tell. Street Survivors became the band's second platinum album, and was the #5 top selling album on the U.S. album chart. Artimus has had many ups and downs since then, several incarcerations, and a huge falling out with Gary. I'm really not sure anymore," he said. 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. I grabbed my camera and jumped in the car. Members of the band that survived the crash said that Cassie actually . Ultimate Classic Rock What Happened to the Survivors of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash? Billy Powell, the bands keyboardist, received extensive facial lacerations and a broken right knee. Don't look like they can afford a ticket. 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. Natural causes were to blame. 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. 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. At the beginning of the flight, all was well, amid high tensions. However, they were apparently talked into using it just one more time which happened to be their last ride. Lewis was on emergency room call that night at McComb's Southwest Regional Medical Center. Lynyrd Skynyrd disbanded after the airplane tragedy. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. Ronnie had died instantly upon impact, his head slamming into a tree. I marked my calendar and made arrangements. 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. We knew every word. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Photo: Pinterest. The sky is the limit for the talented actress. Photo: thetv.info. The plane had completely disintegrated. Billy Powell, the bands keyboardist, received extensive facial lacerations and a broken right knee. The crash killed singer/songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist/vocalist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray. "That solidified that idea. But I couldn't stand it any longer. ", "He came home covered in blood," said his wife, Lola. 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.). The band would be marked for strife as just before their inaugural tour, Allens wife would bleed to death due to a miscarriage. 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. The site has drawn visitors over the years. 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. Over the ridge, a World War II vintage Willis Jeep crawled down a dusty logging trail. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. The album would reach gold in ten days after release and it would eventually go double platinum. He didn't know who the victims were. Aerosmiths management passed on the opportunity to call this plane their own. Losing daylight, the pilots desperately looked for an open field or some kind of saving grace. The band enjoyed national fame in the 1970s with such hits as Gimme Three Steps and Sweet Home Alabama.. Lynyrd Skynyrd is a FANDOM Music Community. Totaled, decimated, and left for dead. He had hunted squirrels along that very ridge. Van Zant himself "loathed flying," as Rolling Stone. 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. The whole scene tore him apart. Road crew member Steve Lawler, who suffered severe contusions and facial lacerations, was taken to the hospital in a pickup with a camper top. "May the free bird fly on," read one message. 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. Cassie Gaines Lynard Skynyrd plane crash was one of the band's most challenging moments. With that cue, Governor took the honors and introduced everyone as Gabel's mouth gaped in disbelief. Gary Rossington, one of the bands guitar players, had suffered two broken arms, a broken leg, a punctured stomach and liver. Cassie Gaines was one of the band members who boarded the ill-fated flight. Johnny headed for the crash site to see if he could help. I'm still not sure why. I've not looked at them since. It wasn't a Cessna; it was a Convair CV 240, a twin engine, 40-passenger plane that was down in heavy woods near Gillsburg. . 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.". The fuselage turned sideways, and everybody was hurled forward.. "The first thing I saw was a bloody hand reaching out from the debris. Collins began his rise to success as the lightning-fingered guitarist for the Jacksonville band formed in 1966 by a group of high school students. 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. (Photo by Ted Jackson). Original cover for Street Survivors, 1977Notably, the third member of The Honkettes, JoJo Billingsley, was not on the plane and in fact was home tending to a family member's illness. Bianca is a force to be reckoned with in the American film industry. Minutes later he was guiding an ambulance through an overgrown trail. 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. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! There is some speculation as to why the second engine had ultimately failed. Marc Frank, a 24-year-old roadie traveling with the band, noticed what seemed to be fuel spewing from the right engine. In the ensuing chaos, souvenir hunters took billfolds, jewelry, suitcases, band merchandise and even chunks of metal from the crash site. Cassie Larue Gaines was an American singer. Everyone was afraid of riding on this plane. "I knew she was gone. Suffocating the people on the bottom from the sheer weight. The band had just released their biggest album to date and was riding off of a good high. What happened to the Menendez brothers' money? Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Toxicology tests were also ordered to determine whether there were drugs in his system at the time. A costly mistake at 9,000ft or so. Guitarists Allen Collins and Steve Gaines, Honkette Leslie Hawkins, bassist Leon Wilkeson, Honkettes Cassie Gaines and JoJo Billingsley, and. 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 Rescue vehicles on the ground found no direct path in sight. In 1977, lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Stevie Gaines and Gaines' sister, Cassie Gaines, were killed in a plane crash. "It was the saddest thing," she recalls, 11 years later. It was the last flight of Lynyrd Skynyrd: Oct. 20, 1977, the night they . There are just too few physical landmarks. Some blame it on the planes age and poor design, weighing in on its smaller fuselage and compact wingspan. Soon after the plane would begin to jerk and shake violently. The album cover depicted the band members in an alleyway covered in flames. One guy standing near the wreckage lit a cigarette and I tackled him," he said. 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.