"I saw the blond hair," he said. There were 24 passengers and two crew members aboard the aircraft. On several occasions, the latter shined through. (Photo by Ted Jackson). His only help at that moment was his neighbor, Dwain Easley. I've not looked at them since. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Mote fired a warning shot in the air. 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: Uncle Johns Bathroom Reader. Wilkeson would eventually be found dead in a hotel room in 2001 at age 49. However, other band members convinced her otherwise. Soon after the plane would begin to jerk and shake violently. Turns out that Cassie didn't want to board that particular flight and had blatantly refused to travel on that plane. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Brenda Martin, 17 at the time, lived with her husband, Johnny Mote (now divorced) in their mobile home on the north side of the crash site. The two men, for a while, were the only able-bodied persons present to help pull people from the wreckage. 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. We had a friendly translator whose command of the English language was poor at best. Everyone just stood there helpless. He lifted one after another and shuffled them to others outside. Gary Rossington, one of the bands guitar players, had suffered two broken arms, a broken leg, a punctured stomach and liver. 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. 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. Steven Earl Gaines (September 14, 1949 - October 20, 1977) was an American musician. Unfortunately, their plane ran short of fuel. The Last Flight of Lynyrd Skynyrd It Was the Day the Music Died Circa 1975, Singers Cassie Gaines , Leslie Hawkins and Jo Jo Billingsley of the American rock group, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1970s. A chartered Convair 240, N55VM, carrying the band between shows from Greenville, South Carolina to LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana crashed near a forest in McComb, Mississippi. As the three marched on, feet soaking wet from the water, all odds seemed stacked against the trio. The plane had completely disintegrated. Band members Artimus Pyle and Billy Powell entered the cockpit to get an idea of what was happening. 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. Lead vocalist and founding member of the southern rock band, Ronnie Van Zant, also lost his life in the accident. Freebird, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 10/20/77 and a notebook-sized rebel flag are deeply etched into the old bark. ", "There were plenty of old boys standing around here. Varying accounts have Mote either firing a warning shot into the air or actually shooting Pyle in the shoulder no report is completely reliable. Born Steven Earl Gaines, the son of Cassie Hatfield and Earl Gaines. Collins and other band members were severely injured. It is reported that the pilots whose eyes were full of terror, told them to go back to their seats and prepare for impact. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. He then assembled a convoy of trucks and four-wheelers to locate the crash site and rescue the survivors. The band had just released their biggest album to date and was riding off of a good high. Everyone knows him as "Governor." According to Powell, Cassie Gaines' final moments were particularly painful as she bled to death in his arms and that her throat had been cut from ear to ear, which gave more indications of execution than an accident. He pulled the lifeless body of Cassie Gaines up by her belt. On 20th October 1977, the Lynyrd Skynyrd boarded a chartered Convair CV-240 to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after their performance in Greenville, South Carolina. Billy Powell, the bands keyboardist, received extensive facial lacerations and a broken right knee. He had known Easley Creek since his youth. Gene Odom had been thrown from the plane and broke his neck, his skin badly burned and one eye blinded by phosphorus from a de-icing flare that had been aboard. Cassie Gaines died on the 20 th of October, 1977 in a plane crash at Gillsburg, Mississippi when she was only 29 years old. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. The band has asked that fans wishing to remember Wilkeson do so through the Musician's Assistance Program, which assists musicians and industry professionals seeking treatment for addiction. The rest of the group had no idea at the time that they would never see the face of Ronnie again. Powell's nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. 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. Sit down. The plane had taken off with a faulty gasoline gauge that fooled the pilots into thinking that the plane was equipped with the appropriate amount of gas to reach their destination. News had spread about the crash and before too long an estimated 3,000 people had swarmed to the crash site. The band regularly has different people sit in and play shows with them like Warren Haynes and Dicky Betts. I quickly maneuvered free of a crumpled bumper and sped off. He obtained his first guitar at about age 14. Don't look like they can afford a ticket. At the time of her death she survived by her large extended friends and family. Cassie LaRue Hatfield Gaines (1926-1979) - Find a One of them being completely decapitated. Martin said she then, "called 911, or 0, or whatever we called back then.". He had been impaled by a part of the fuselage and it pushed through his body and projected out of his back. Losing daylight, the pilots desperately looked for an open field or some kind of saving grace. Ronnie Van Zant enjoying a stog before a show. We had to cross a black water slew," he said. Some of the guys were playing poker. There is some speculation as to why the second engine had ultimately failed. 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. Pianist Billy Powell survived, but his nose was nearly torn off and he suffered severe facial lacerations. Pilot Walter. Members of the band that survived the crash said that Cassie actually . These combinations of poorly built aircraft and less than acceptable crew quickly led to the dismissal of the band leasing out their services. Tremendous physical pain overwhelmed the group as did mental exhaustion. 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. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. They were scheduled to perform at the Louisiana State University. 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.". All the surrounding land is privately owned and prominently marked with "No Trespassing" signs. Shining from what seemed to be a small house on a dairy farm. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. The singer died in the arms of the surviving band's keyboardist Billy Powell. One guy standing near the wreckage lit a cigarette and I tackled him," he said. On the original pressing of the cover of Street Survivors was a photograph of the band engulfed in flames. The band buckled in. Billy had taken too long on his intro to the song Free Bird and that didnt set well with Ronnie. "He didn't want to talk about it for years.". Lynyrd Skynyrd is a staple on rock, classic rock, and southern radio stations. 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. Photo: hu.wikipedia.com. I began the classic guitar lick. 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. He could hear the people moaning, pleading for help. I can't remember," he said. A Convair CV-240, similar to the one in the crash. But there wasn't any gas on the ground because they ran out of gas.". "Steve was at the peak of his career. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Gene Odom had been thrown from the plane and broke his neck, his skin badly burned and one eye blinded by phosphorus from a de-icing flare that had been aboard. 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. Powell's nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. We knew every word. I told him that it was the strongest thing I had seen a man do.. 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. Small and cramped, it still felt better than lift-off of the Convair CV-240. Photo credits Airplane-Pictures.net. She was hesitant because she had seen a small fire in one of the engines the previous day. Photo: thetv.info. Lynyrd Skynyrd was known for their hard-rocking style, driven by powerful guitars. 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. The album had a very controversial cover when released. Easley knows he wasn't the first on the site, but he was there early. "New Orleans is a southern city. Cassie Gaines Lynard Skynyrd plane crash was one of the band's most challenging moments. Both Steve and Cassie Gaines were killed in the crash. But sadly when he drank, which was quite often, his demeanor and character qualities changed drastically. They were scheduled to perform at the Louisiana State University. They all died but we didnt. Since Cassie was not aware of the band's existence at that time, Jojo offered her a copy of Lynyrd Skynyrd's first two albums to make her acquainted with the band's work. The pilots would have to make an emergency landing. Cassie Gaines was one of the band members who boarded the ill-fated flight. In addition to his fractured ribcage, Artimus Pyle was treated for numerous abrasions and contusions. The band regularly has different people sit in and play shows with them like Warren Haynes and Dicky Betts. The singer was approached by artist JoJo Billingsley, sent by the band's head and lead vocalist, Ronnie Van Zant. "Are you writing a book?" 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. ", "I never cared about flying in an airplane," he said. In 1975, his sister, Cassie, whose group had been hired to sing back. In a separate interview, revealing the story of sound man Paul Welch who suffered traumatic injuries in this crash and was sent into a coma, shares that the plane that was utilized during this trip was already catching fire around the engine area and Lynyrd Skynyrd had requested to cease using it. The tree where the cockpit came to rest has long-since died. The rest of the group had no idea at the time that they would never see the face of Ronnie again. Mote was putting out square bales of hay for the cattle when he heard what sounded "like a car crash on a gravel road." The plane had completely disintegrated. Powells nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. These things don't happen here. Cassie Gaines: Southern Rock's Honkette | Rocks Off Mag The aircraft crashed in a heavily wooded area during an attempted emergency landing. A Convair CV-240, similar to the one in the crash. Allen Collins kept moving on, eventually getting together with Gary Rossington to form the Rossington Collins Band. The sky is the limit for the talented actress. 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. For members Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, the weight of what happened seemed to push down on them the most. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. Ronnie had died instantly upon impact, his head slamming into a tree. All he could think was that they must be from a recent a jailbreak," she said. As he looked around the scene, his mind went back. The band enjoyed national fame in the 1970s with such hits as Gimme Three Steps and Sweet Home Alabama.. Other band members were injured, some very seriously. Thats when most of the sober members of the band saw that the right propeller was no longer working. That farm belonged to a young dairy farmer named Johnny Mote. 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. Los Angeles, Billie Eilishs phone is now internet-free: Im like: Ew! He suffered a heart attack while on break from tour. 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. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. I threw it in reverse and plowed into my mother-in-law's car. 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. She performed as a backup singer in popular hits such as One More Time and That Smell. Losing daylight, the pilots desperately looked for an open field or some kind of saving grace. He was more in the image I was pre-visualizing - one of an aging rocker. The fuselage turned sideways, and everybody was hurled forward.. He was known as Papa Ronnie. Lynyrd Skynyrd stops for a shot in 1973. "If (that tree) could talk, it'd tell you all about it," he said. His only help at that moment was his neighbor, Dwain Easley. Aerosmiths band management at the time was looking at a Convair CV-240. Skynyrd Crash Survivor Allen Collins Dies, 37 - Los Angeles Times Powells nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. I couldn't stand it. 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. 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. 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. The pilots tried an emergency landing, but the plane crashed in the woods near Gillsburg in Mississippi. Sadly, it would end all to soon. Wilkeson would eventually be found dead in a hotel room in 2001 at age 49. 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Street Survivors became the band's second platinum album, and was the #5 top selling album on the U.S. album chart. It was there where he was found dead in his room on July 27. ", But with no experience he morphed from a dairy farmer to a rescuer. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. The talented singer met her death at the young age of 29. Almost four decades later, I noticed a seemingly innocuous post on Facebook. 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. The two men, for a while, were the only able-bodied persons present to help pull people from the wreckage. Powell's nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. 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. 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. But one thing I'm proud of. 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. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. July 30, 2001 -- Leon Wilkeson, bass player and founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, is dead at age 49. At least one member, background singer Cassie Gaines, had refused to board the flight, but was convinced against her better judgment. Marc Frank was beaten terribly and was also covered in lacerations and blood. He says he first came in the 80s after he graduated. The whole scene tore him apart. 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. Ronnie had died instantly upon impact, his head slamming into a tree. 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. Click to reveal As we walked, Easely pointed to a towering pine. As the three marched on, feet soaking wet from the water, all odds seemed stacked against the trio. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2fad0cc830fa72 But I loved the bonding. As the small band of brothers grew, the conversation grew lively but stayed reverent. Her mother passed away on 15th February 1979 in a car accident. Gene Odom, Lynyrd Skynyrds bodyguard, recalls: They took my watch, my wallet, my ring, and my money as I lay bleeding on the ground. We always wondered why, you know. The surviving members would grapple with this throughout their days. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. "It was the saddest thing," she recalls, 11 years later. But soon, the helicopters that were heard and seen previously were on the scene. Rossington recalls saying It was always weird for Allen and me because we were up front in the plane. The band was reaching fever pitch with its fans across the South and the nation. Its many hit songs include "Freebird," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps" and "Simple Man.". 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. Home; Memorials; Cemeteries; Famous; Contribute; Register; Sign In; Register; Sign In; . If a band couldn't play Skynyrd, they didn't get hired for the school dance. 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. 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. 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. The album had two notable songs: Whats your name and That Smell. 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. Cassie Gaines - Wikipedia 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. It would take hours to remove the bodies of the dead and injured from the plane. In 1995, while on assignment in Phunket Thailand for the Times-Picayune's series "Oceans of Trouble," I boarded a small fantail fishing boat on the edges of the Andaman Sea with writer John McQuaid to photograph the disappearing mangroves. Two of them were crew members, pilot Walter McReary and co-pilot William Gray, the rest were band members and roadies. 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. The reason behind this? I had not realized before, but he also was there that night. Another 20 were injured, which included keyboardist Billy Powell, guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, drummer Artimus Pyle and bassist Leon Wilkeson. Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, Kilpatrick and the pilots were laid in a temporary morgue at a local high school gymnasium. On several occasions, the latter shined through. In 1977, lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Stevie Gaines and Gaines' sister, Cassie Gaines, were killed in a plane crash. Pilots Walter McCreary and William Gray were fully aware of a fuel shortage before the flight took off. But as my wife and I watched the news bulletins flash on TV, it was a big deal. 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. Lynyrd Skynyd: The NTSB Report - Angelfire Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system.