Dwain Easley still lives on the east side of the crash site. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Tangled by underbrush and the 20-foot creek, the rescue team had to act and think fast. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. Things were going so well. It was Dr. Hank Lewis, a month shy of 78-years-old. 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. "New Orleans is a southern city. The will to carry on was strong, however, Pyle being a US Marine, would live out the phrase Semper Fidelis which means always faithful. He suffered a heart attack . Birthday: January 9, 1948. 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 A costly mistake at 9,000ft or so. A spokesperson for the band's record label said Wilkeson died in his sleep Friday at a hotel near Jacksonville, Florida. A towering beech tree stands sentinel on the west side of the creek, carefully carved with scores of knurled epithets. The guys hit the dirt and yelling out with what they had left Hey! One band member, JoJo Billingsly, was not on the flight. There were 26 people on that fateful flight. 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. 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. Cassie Larue Gaines was an American singer. "They seemed to be chasing him, trying to flag him down. In the beginning, the singer was reluctant to board the aircraft and had already bought another commercial flight ticket. Victims were taken to the hospital in McComb, Mississippi by ambulances and other vehicles. 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. I've not looked at them since. On several occasions, the latter shined through. The album had two notable songs: Whats your name and That Smell. One guy standing near the wreckage lit a cigarette and I tackled him," he said. But one thing I'm proud of. Some blame it on the planes age and poor design, weighing in on its smaller fuselage and compact wingspan. At the beginning of the flight, all was well, amid high tensions. 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. Lynyrd Skynyrd was known for their hard-rocking style, driven by powerful guitars. As we walked through the woods, Governor and I agree that nothing looked or felt the same. 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. 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. At the beginning of the flight, all was well, amid high tensions. Pilot Walter. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. But there wasn't any gas on the ground because they ran out of gas.". The plane had completely disintegrated. At least one member, background singer Cassie Gaines, had refused to board the flight, but was convinced against her better judgment. Mote fired a warning shot in the air. Totaled, decimated, and left for dead. I told him that it was the strongest thing I had seen a man do.. The next morning I looked over them, made a few small prints and forgot about them. Their lyrics were raw and fresh - honest and simple. It was there where he was found dead in his room on July 27. For members Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, the weight of what happened seemed to push down on them the most. If you look closely, Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines (2 of 3 band members to die in the crash) are completely engulfed in flames, whereas the rest of the band is merely standing around in the streets of fire. It was Steve, and me, and Ronnie and I was in the middle of them. Some were screaming and moaning for help, but they were all limp. As medical personnel triaged the scene, he helped carry the litters of the injured and the dead across the creek to a waiting 4-wheel-drive pickup truck. Who died in the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash? Mike Rounsaville also arrived in the jeep with Dr. Lewis. Marc Frank, a 24-year-old roadie traveling with the band, noticed what seemed to be fuel spewing from the right engine. The reason is that just a few short days before some of the band members had reported seeing sparks a large as 10ft shooting out of the right engine. "It was a lot wetter that night. He then assembled a convoy of trucks and four-wheelers to locate the crash site and rescue the survivors. Cassie Gaines cause of death The talented singer met her death at the young age of 29. In addition to his fractured ribcage, Artimus Pyle was treated for numerous abrasions and contusions. The site has drawn visitors over the years. Ronnie Van Zant was just more than the bands main songwriter, frontman, and singer. Powell also claimed that Ronnie Van Zant's head had been smashed. The tour is scheduled to run through mid-September. Billy Powell, the bands keyboardist, received extensive facial lacerations and a broken right knee. How do they know? Its many hit songs include "Freebird," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps" and "Simple Man.". When Aerosmith's crew heard of Skynyrd's misfortune, they were shocked, but not necessarily surprised. 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 had a small studio, making a living mostly painting signs for local businesses. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. One such silent witness has found a way to talk. 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. It was Steve, and me, and Ronnie and I was in the middle of them. 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. 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. He pulled the lifeless body of Cassie Gaines up by her belt. Although Steven Tyler and Joe Perry had insisted that they charter the plane, ultimately it was not signed to the band. Marc Frank, a 24-year-old roadie traveling with the band, noticed what seemed to be fuel spewing from the right engine. 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. "If (that tree) could talk, it'd tell you all about it," he said. After I led him to the downtown McComb offices, I returned home, developed my film in a clumsy bathroom darkroom and went to sleep. The albums that followed featured a plain black background. Ronnies mother Marion refused to make the flight, after seeing a horrific plane crash of her own that killed 9 people. Johnny headed for the crash site to see if he could help. 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 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 album would reach gold in ten days after release and it would eventually go double platinum. Medical personnel arrived and began to ferry out the injured and the dead. Photo: obviousmag.org. 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. Sadly, the band would not make it to Baton Rouge and the plane had been pushed one flight too many. Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, Kilpatrick and the pilots were laid in a temporary morgue at a local high school gymnasium. Cassie Gaines was born on January 9, 1948 and died on October 20, 1977. I knew my camera had stories to tell. We were shocked, as were most others hearing the news. "Yes, your right," I said, slightly amused. The band has sold an estimated 35 million records. "I was well prepared with advanced trauma life support training," he said, "and (I was) a flight surgeon in the military. Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, Kilpatrick and the pilots were laid in a temporary morgue at a local high school gymnasium. Everyone just stood there helpless. On the original pressing of the cover of Street Survivors was a photograph of the band engulfed in flames. He remembered seeing bodies everywhere. Cassie Gaines died on the 20 th of October, 1977 in a plane crash at Gillsburg, Mississippi when she was only 29 years old. Then on the other side, it was Allen in the middle of Dean and Cassie. 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. Without wanting to cause alarm he thought to himself that maybe the pilots were trying to transfer fuel from one engine to another. But a message on the group's official Web site said the summer tour will resume on Aug. 7, in Spokane, Wash. Van Zant died instantly of blunt force trauma to the head. When he was sober, he was a fair and kind person. Everyone on the flight, except for Ronnie Van Zant, was feeling uneasy and restless. All he could think was that they must be from a recent a jailbreak," she said. 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. ", "I never cared about flying in an airplane," he said. His post noted that he and many others had made pilgrimages for years to the site to pay their respects. I was a young graphic artist at the time. Throughout the ordeal, he remembers seeing the debris and suitcases scattered around, but he didn't think anything of it. Her mother passed away on 15th February 1979 in a car accident. 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. Wilkeson cheated death in 1977, surviving a crash of the band's chartered plane. According to a Billboard report, he died of natural causes in his sleep. But sadly when he drank, which was quite often, his demeanor and character qualities changed drastically. She began her career at a young age but has grown steadily over the years to become one of the best in Hollywood. Photo: Uncle Johns Bathroom Reader. I couldn't stand it. Cassie Gaines Wikipedia; Sponsored Links. The original cover was restored after the 30th anniversary of the album. Mote recalls the first thing he saw was a bloody hand sticking out from the wreckage. But as my wife and I watched the news bulletins flash on TV, it was a big deal. I obviously didn't know what I was doing. A tragic scene no person would ever wish to see or soon forget. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. I told him that it was the strongest thing I had seen a man do.. Pyle, Frank, and Peden were met with hostility when they finally came up to Mote. Powell's nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. The fuselage turned sideways, and everybody was hurled forward.. 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 two men, for a while, were the only able-bodied persons present to help pull people from the wreckage. The cover would quickly be changed to a more bland blacked-out background with the band in the same pose after the accident. No one that hit the ground alive died. She was requested to join the band as a backing vocalist. On 20th October 1977, the Lynyrd Skynyrd boarded a chartered Convair CV-240 to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after their performance in Greenville, South Carolina. Natural causes were to blame. 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. Toxicology tests were also ordered to determine whether there were drugs in his system at the time. 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. Any debris left on the ground has long been buried. 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. Video of a barechested Pyle at the 1979 Volunteer Jam does not show evidence of a gunshot wound. How did Cassie Gaines get in Lynyrd Skynyrd? Home; Memorials; Cemeteries; Famous; Contribute; Register; Sign In; Register; Sign In; . His only help at that moment was his neighbor, Dwain Easley. The singer died in the arms of the surviving band's keyboardist Billy Powell. 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. A Convair CV-240. Coincidence? I'm still not sure why. One of them being completely decapitated. "Why, yes I do," I said, thinking about my roots, my old buddies and the high school dances. Mote recalls the first thing he saw was a bloody hand sticking out from the wreckage. 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. 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. Sadly, it would end all to soon. ", "And everybody says they were the first one there. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. The whole scene tore him apart. It felt like being hit with baseball bats in a steel garbage can with the lid on. Collins and other band members were severely injured. she asked me as we talked. But sadly when he drank, which was quite often, his demeanor and character qualities changed drastically. 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. 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. Guitarists Allen Collins and Steve Gaines, Honkette Leslie Hawkins, bassist Leon Wilkeson, Honkettes Cassie Gaines and JoJo Billingsley, and. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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.