Was anyone beside the pilot with the group? I met someone who said that they were in the plane crash but I have my doubts, although they do work in that industry.
2007-03-20 04:36:31 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
**Rossington, Collins, Powell, Wilkeson, and Leslie Hawkins, are all seriously injured but survive the crash. **
Gillsburg, Mississippi, is best known as the location of the October 20, 1977, plane crash that killed several members of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd.
A rental plane carrying the band between shows from Greenville, South Carolina, to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was low on fuel and crashed in a swamp in Gillsburg.
The crash killed singer/songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray. The other band members were seriously injured in the crash.
1977
Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins present a platinum album awarded them for 'One More For The Road' to the Mayor of Atlanta, in appreciation of the band's Atlanta fans. Another album would be presented to the Fox Theatre in Atlanta where the album was recorded. 'Street Survivors,' The band's second platinum selling record is released. On October 20th, tragedy would strike the band as Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines (Steve's sister and one of Skynyrd's back-up singers), and road manager Dean Kilpatrick are killed when the band's rented plane (short on fuel) crashes into a swamp in Gillsburg, Mississippi, while en route to a gig at Louisiana University.
Rossington, Collins, Powell, Wilkeson, and Leslie Hawkins, are all seriously injured but survive the crash.
Out of courtesy and good judgement MCA Records withdraws the sleeve of the just released album 'Street Survivors,' which pictures the group standing in flames. The album will become the band's second platinum selling album, hitting #5 on the U.S. album chart.
2007-03-20 04:50:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
October 20, 1977, The Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash. Killed lead singer and song writer Ronnie VanZant, guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick. Also killed were pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray. According to the NTSB report, the pilots miscalculated the amount of fuel provided in Lakeland, Florida on October 18, 1977. When they refueled in Greenville, South Carolina on the 20th, they compounded this error by believing they had more fuel than they really did. The airplane was also experiencing some mechanical difficulties which required the pilots to operate the right engine in the "auto-rich" position which burned fuel at an excessive rate. The combination of these problems resulted in nearly complete fuel exhaustion. The pilots changed course and headed for an airport near McComb, Mississippi but the plane stalled near Gillsburg, Mississippi and crashed in swampy woods.
2007-03-20 04:42:05 · answer #2 · answered by chris m 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There were quite a few crewmembers also on the plane with the band (besides the pilots of course). One I can remember off the top of my head is Gene Odom - he's still very much alive. Check out his book, "Remembering the Free Birds of Southern Rock".
I believe there were others, but I can't remember them all. If I remember correctly, the book speaks of them. Gene was one of Ronnie Van Zant's closest friends.
2007-03-20 22:28:02 · answer #3 · answered by smokestack.lightnin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray
2007-03-20 04:42:46 · answer #4 · answered by mickyparise 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
QUICK ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS YES.... THERE WERE SURVIVORS!
: )
2007-03-20 04:50:16 · answer #5 · answered by Mommy To Be in April 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋