Assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, the pilot, and co-pilot Walter McCreary and William Gray also died. 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. His only help at that moment was his neighbor, Dwain Easley. Mote recalls the first thing he saw was a bloody hand sticking out from the wreckage. 137.184.228.194 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. Tangled by underbrush and the 20-foot creek, the rescue team had to act and think fast. How do they know? These things don't happen here. "Seems like everyone is writing a book. Throughout the ordeal, he remembers seeing the debris and suitcases scattered around, but he didn't think anything of it. 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. "Live on my brother. He remembered seeing bodies everywhere. He then assembled a convoy of trucks and four-wheelers to locate the crash site and rescue the survivors. In the ensuing chaos, souvenir hunters took billfolds, jewelry, suitcases, band merchandise and even chunks of metal from the crash site. It was rumored that it was Ed Kings (original guitar player for Lynyrd Skynyrd) wife but it was not confirmed. Rescuers look over the wreckage of the 1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. The albums that followed featured a plain black background. Band members Artimus Pyle and Billy Powell entered the cockpit to get an idea of what was happening. Billy Powell would be in the new starting line-up of Lynyrd Skynyrd until his death in 2009. Mike Rounsaville also arrived in the jeep with Dr. Lewis. 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. Cassie was buried in Orange Park, Florida, together with her brother, Steve Gains. I admired his ability to tell gripping stories with his camera, so I began considering a career change. Her mother passed away on 15th February 1979 in a car accident. 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. Other band members were injured, some very seriously. "New Orleans is a southern city. From left to right: Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant, And Gary Rossington. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Both of which helped the album climb to the No. Medical personnel arrived and began to ferry out the injured and the dead. We love you!!!" 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). 1 on iTunes Charts, 36 songs, no apologies: Morgan Wallen delivers more (much more) of what made him countrys king, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Winter storms ease drought conditions in California, report shows, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Best coffee city in the world? The pilots were still in their seats, but were laying upside down in nearby trees. A medical examiner said on Sunday that Wilkeson suffered from chronic liver and lung disease, and most likely died of natural causes. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Ronnie Van Zant enjoying a stog before a show. Gene Odom, Lynyrd Skynyrds bodyguard, recalls: They took my watch, my wallet, my ring, and my money as I lay bleeding on the ground. Ronnie had died instantly upon impact, his head slamming into a tree. Buker had noticed the flight crew passing around liquor bottles while aboard the plane. I obviously didn't know what I was doing. It was Dr. Hank Lewis, a month shy of 78-years-old. Dean Kilpatrick, the bands manager, lay dead and covered in blood. "Are you writing a book?" 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 couldn't stand it. A Convair CV-240. It sounded great to us. Cassie Gaines - Bio, Personal Life, Family & Cause Of Death - CelebsAges These combinations of poorly built aircraft and less than acceptable crew quickly led to the dismissal of the band leasing out their services. Collins recovered and began performing again, eventually forming the Allen Collins Band. Collins and other band members were severely injured. But not all had the intentions of lending a helping hand. ", "He came home covered in blood," said his wife, Lola. The guys hit the dirt and yelling out with what they had left Hey! Johnny headed for the crash site to see if he could help. He was a walking treasure trove of names, facts and figures. Photo: thetv.info. Turns out that Cassie didn't want to board that particular flight and had blatantly refused to travel on that plane. They were scheduled to perform at the Louisiana State University. Marc Frank remembers seeing complete and total despair. When he was sober, he was a fair and kind person. An old high school friend, Bobby McDaniel, posted a photo and a comment about a name-carved tree from the crash site. Photo: thetv.info. Before long, he noticed three men emerge from the dense woods along the pasture. Cassie Gaines Birthday and Date of Death. Street Survivors became the band's second platinum album, and was the #5 top selling album on the U.S. album chart. Her brother was Skynyrd guitarist Steve Gaines. One such silent witness has found a way to talk. That farm belonged to a young dairy farmer named Johnny Mote. "Steve was at the peak of his career. 5 album. It was Steve, and me, and Ronnie and I was in the middle of them. Mother of Lynyrd Skynyrd members Cassie Gaines and Steve Gaines. Pilots Walter McCreary and William Gray were fully aware of a fuel shortage before the flight took off. Ronnie Van Zant enjoying a stog before a show. "He (Mote) ran in the door saying, 'Ya'll get down on the floor, there's escaped convicts out there," Martin remembers. In the beginning, the singer was reluctant to board the aircraft and had already bought another commercial flight ticket. Cassie joined the team and became one of the three members of The Honkette's, a female gospel vocal trio of Lynyrd Skynyrd. It felt like being hit with baseball bats in a steel garbage can with the lid on. 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. A little after the two-hour mark, however, events started to unfold that would soon make history. The death of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gains of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd was a massive blow to many. I quickly maneuvered free of a crumpled bumper and sped off. Lynyrd Skynyrd pose for a portrait circa 1976. He didn't know who the victims were. Billy had taken too long on his intro to the song Free Bird and that didnt set well with Ronnie. 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. It would take hours to remove the bodies of the dead and injured from the plane. 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. Cassie Gaines was one of the band members who boarded the ill-fated flight. 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. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Cause of death: Car accident. Cassie Gaines Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images The fuselage turned sideways, and everybody was hurled forward.. A tragic scene no person would ever wish to see or soon forget. Soon after the plane would begin to jerk and shake violently. Cassie Gaines: Southern Rock's Honkette | Rocks Off Mag Birthday: January 9, 1948. They were directing him to the property next to his family's farm. They all died but we didnt. I had a small studio, making a living mostly painting signs for local businesses. 10 Details About the Fatal Plane Crash that Was the Death of Lynyrd 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. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2fad0cc830fa72 At the time of her death, she was 29 years old. Both Steve and Cassie Gaines were killed in the crash. She died from excessive bleeding as her throat had been cut from ear to ear. Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and singer Cassie Gaines were all killed in the crash, and the . Natural causes were to blame. Road crew member Steve Lawler, who suffered severe contusions and facial lacerations, was taken to the hospital in a pickup with a camper top. You have permission to edit this article. 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. Circa 1975, Singers Cassie Gaines , Leslie Hawkins and Jo Jo Billingsley of the American rock group, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1970s. Cassie Gaines Wiki, Biography, Age, Career, Relationship, Net Worth 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. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. Allen's wife would bleed to death due to a miscarriage. Crying, praying, and counting the dead to see who they would never hug, play music with, and enjoy company with again. 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. "Yes, your right," I said, slightly amused. He had been impaled by a part of the fuselage and it pushed through his body and projected out of his back. 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. 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. ", Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. She was sick and would meet up with the band in Arkansas to continue the tour. The album had two notable songs: Whats your name and That Smell. "It was the saddest thing," she recalls, 11 years later. But not all had the intentions of lending a helping hand. The album had a very controversial cover when released. Any debris left on the ground has long been buried. Rock Musician. Band members Artimus Pyle and Billy Powell entered the cockpit to get an idea of what was happening. Especially Artimus, who had three broken ribs and multiple large cuts. Photo: Uncle Johns Bathroom Reader. The official cause of death will be announced after toxicology test results come back in two to three weeks. That farm belonged to a young dairy farmer named Johnny Mote. Lynyrd Skynyrd is no doubt an American staple in music and southern rock culture. 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. It was there where he was found dead in his room on July 27. He was only 39, but was no rookie. Owners emphasize that trespassers can be prosecuted. 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. Pilots Walter McCreary and William Gray were fully aware of a fuel shortage before the flight took off. Its many hit songs include "Freebird," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps" and "Simple Man.". Cassie Gaines was a talented and committed backup singer for the Lynard Skynyrd music band until she died in a plane crash. Another 20 were injured, which included keyboardist Billy Powell, guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, drummer Artimus Pyle and bassist Leon Wilkeson. Making the original release cover more valuable to collectors than the second cover released just a few weeks after the album hit the shelves. He had hunted squirrels along that very ridge. The whole scene tore him apart. Tuesday October 20, 2015 marked the 38th anniversary and drew several veterans from the night of the crash. 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. I was a young graphic artist at the time. All he could think was that they must be from a recent a jailbreak," she said. The album would go through several cover changes and would mark a new era for the guys. He had known Easley Creek since his youth. Steven Earl Gaines (September 14, 1949 - October 20, 1977) was an American musician. He was best known for being a Rock Singer. It felt like being hit with baseball bats in a steel garbage can with the lid on. And the hardest-working rock 'n' roll band in America was about to run out of gas. However, it is believed that the pilots were trying to transfer oil from one engine to another when they accidentally jettisoned the fuel instead. There were 26 people on that fateful flight. Tragic Details Found In Leon Wilkeson's Autopsy Report - Grunge.com
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