A few minutes later I was talking my way past a Mississippi State trooper. 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. But sadly when he drank, which was quite often, his demeanor and character qualities changed drastically. Street Survivors was released just three days before the crash and would quickly become a hit. Artimus Pyle and Gary Rossington are the only two members alive today from the crash. One of the three men was the band's drummer Artimus Pyle, who yelled, "Plane crash." These things don't happen here. His luck, however, was on the short end of the stick as he would have his throat slit while on the Lynyrd Skynyrd tour bus in the early 90s. The only thing left was a trail of debris and people. Especially Artimus, who had three broken ribs and multiple large cuts. Cassie Gaines was one of the band members who boarded the ill-fated flight. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! But we were both enjoying it. She was famous for being part of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. 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. Among them were Lacy Van Zant, Ronnies Father, and .38 Specials Guitarist Dan Barnes. She was brought up in Miami, Florida, alongside her brothers, Bob and Steve. He drove down from his home in Oakland, Miss. 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. Leslie Hawkins sustained a concussion, broke her neck in three places and had severe facial lacerations. Billy had taken too long on his intro to the song Free Bird and that didnt set well with Ronnie. A spokesperson for the band's record label said Wilkeson died in his sleep Friday at a hotel near Jacksonville, Florida. He then assembled a convoy of trucks and four-wheelers to locate the crash site and rescue the survivors. The site has drawn visitors over the years. It was there where he was found dead in his room on July 27. 10 Details About the Fatal Plane Crash that Was the Death of Lynyrd Almost four decades later, I noticed a seemingly innocuous post on Facebook. 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. 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. I knew I could take photographs if I could get there. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. 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 reason behind this? Allen Collins kept moving on, eventually getting together with Gary Rossington to form the Rossington Collins Band. As the three marched on, feet soaking wet from the water, all odds seemed stacked against the trio. After claiming his deceased son, Lacy Van Zant went to visit the other members of the band at the hospital. Steve Gaines - Wikipedia We had to cross a black water slew," he said. Cassie Gaines - Bio, Personal Life, Family & Cause Of Death - CelebsAges Through the woods, yet another seeker appeared. Wilkeson would eventually be found dead in a hotel room in 2001 at age 49. 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. 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. 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 Rudge chartered three planes for loved ones to identify the bodies. 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.). 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. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. Powell also claimed that Ronnie Van Zant's head had been smashed. The album had deeper meaning than most. Artimus Pyle was also notoriously outspoken against the plane and on several occasions would take buses to shows. Even long after she is gone, her legacy as one of the most talented singers remains. And to Brenda's point, he's writing a book. 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. At the beginning of the flight, all was well, amid high tensions. 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. Natural causes were to blame. On hearing of the accident, Billingsley was so shaken that some of her hair fell out. In the beginning, the singer was reluctant to board the aircraft and had already bought another commercial flight ticket. 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. 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 had not realized before, but he also was there that night. Their lyrics were raw and fresh - honest and simple. Cassie Gaines Death Fact Check, Birthday & Date of Death - Dead or Kicking ", "And everybody says they were the first one there. Home; Memorials; Cemeteries; Famous; Contribute; Register; Sign In; Register; Sign In; . Wilkeson would eventually be found dead in a hotel room in 2001 at age 49. The band had just released their biggest album to date and was riding off of a good high. Pyle, Frank, and Peden were met with hostility when they finally came up to Mote. According to a Billboard report, he died of natural causes in his sleep. 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. In the ensuing chaos, souvenir hunters took billfolds, jewelry, suitcases, band merchandise and even chunks of metal from the crash site. Minutes later he was guiding an ambulance through an overgrown trail. Remembering Lynyrd Skynyrd's Deadly 1977 Plane Crash They were scheduled to perform at the Louisiana State University. But as my wife and I watched the news bulletins flash on TV, it was a big deal. Lynyrd Skynyrd stops for a shot in 1973. 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. memorial page for Cassie LaRue Hatfield Gaines (26 Nov 1926-15 Feb 1979), Find a Grave Memorial ID 37010431, citing Jacksonville Memory . 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. The album would reach gold in ten days after release and it would eventually go double platinum. So we came out here and got busy. A little after the two-hour mark, however, events started to unfold that would soon make history. Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, Kilpatrick and the pilots were laid in a temporary morgue at a local high school gymnasium. He then assembled a convoy of trucks and four-wheelers to locate the crash site and rescue the survivors. Birthday: January 9, 1948. Cassie was 29 years old at the time of death. Willing to lend a hand and stick by his bandmates, he was hard to beat when standing by your side. It was rumored that it was Ed Kings (original guitar player for Lynyrd Skynyrd) wife but it was not confirmed. ", "I expected to see all dead people looking at these woods. 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. 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. Everyone knows him as "Governor." Rossington recalls saying It was always weird for Allen and me because we were up front in the plane. 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. Photo: hu.wikipedia.com. Three crew members died in a plane crash just three days after the release of their 5th album. Easley knows he wasn't the first on the site, but he was there early. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Losing daylight, the pilots desperately looked for an open field or some kind of saving grace. "I'd never seen anything like that," he said. Natural causes were to blame. Some of the guys were playing poker. Posted and no trespassing signs are prominently displayed. I marked my calendar and made arrangements. 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. 10 Details About the Fatal Plane Crash that Was the Death of Lynyrd Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. News had spread about the crash and before too long an estimated 3,000 people had swarmed to the crash site. And then we heard voices. As the three marched on, feet soaking wet from the water, all odds seemed stacked against the trio. When he was sober, he was a fair and kind person. The band got its name as a way of mocking Leonard Skinner, a gym coach at Robert E. Lee High School known for punishing his long-haired students specifically band co-founders Gary Rossington and Bob Burns. There were 24 passengers and two crew members aboard the aircraft. Another 20 were injured, which included keyboardist Billy Powell, guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, drummer Artimus Pyle and bassist Leon Wilkeson. "May the free bird fly on," read one message. He was known as Papa Ronnie. Violent, wild, and belligerent, Ronnie was a force to be reckoned with. Photo credits Airplane-Pictures.net. Cassie Gaines was a talented and committed backup singer for the Lynard Skynyrd music band until she died in a plane crash. Dean Kilpatrick, the bands manager, lay dead and covered in blood. The plane finally slammed into the earth, and Billy Powell recalls saying, We hit the trees at approximately 90 mph. Gabel says he's been to the site 15 or more times. he said, barely able to get his English to suit his thoughts. My younger brother and I banged out "Freebird" on a cheap set of drums in our bedroom. Part of the preparations required contacting landowners and securing permission to be there and a guide to lead me in. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Coincidence? Contributing to the fuel exhaustion were inadequate flight planning and an engine malfunction of undetermined nature in the right engine which resulted in higher-than-normal fuel consumption." The whole scene tore him apart. Everyone was afraid of riding on this plane. Band members Artimus Pyle and Billy Powell entered the cockpit to get an idea of what was happening. Tremendous physical pain overwhelmed the group as did mental exhaustion. We were all fans. "I knew she was gone. Cassie Gaines was born on January 9, 1948 and died on October 20, 1977. 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. On several occasions, the latter shined through. Lynyrd Skynyd: The NTSB Report - Angelfire 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. Cassie was buried in Orange Park, Florida, together with her brother, Steve Gains. Band members Artimus Pyle and Billy Powell entered the cockpit to get an idea of what was happening. The accident essentially destroyed one of the unique voices of American rock and roll. 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. We just had released an album that went gold almost overnight. The Last Flight of Lynyrd Skynyrd It Was the Day the Music Died One of them being completely decapitated. "Why, yes I do," I said, thinking about my roots, my old buddies and the high school dances. I was just taken aback by it " but then his friend continued, "don't worry, Lynyrd made it out.". But sadly when he drank, which was quite often, his demeanor and character qualities changed drastically. 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. Headline from a local newspaper reporting the crash. From the commercial hits of Free Bird and Simple Man to less mainstream songs like The Needle And The Spoon and T Is For Texas, Lynyrd Skynyrd and their driving southern sound quickly cut their way to the top of the charts and into the hearts of many across the states and around the world. Gene Odom, Lynyrd Skynyrds bodyguard, recalls: They took my watch, my wallet, my ring, and my money as I lay bleeding on the ground. All reality had been broken and none of the surviving members would ever be the same or view life the same again. They were scheduled to perform at the Louisiana State University. I had never seen anything like it before. The tail section broke off, the cockpit broke off and buckled underneath, then both wings broke off. 1977 Plane Crash | Lynyrd Skynyrd | Fandom Cassie Gaines: Southern Rock's Honkette | Rocks Off Mag Allen's wife would bleed to death due to a miscarriage. I began the classic guitar lick. Although Steven Tyler and Joe Perry had insisted that they charter the plane, ultimately it was not signed to the band. Rudge chartered three planes for loved ones to identify the bodies. 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.
Black Nightlife In Nashville, Tn,
7 Stages Of Trauma Bonding,
Articles C
