Lynyrd Skynyrd

The 1977 Plane Crash That Shattered Lynyrd Skynyrd

On October 20, 1977, Southern rock giants Lynyrd Skynyrd were riding high. Their fifth studio album, Street Survivors, had just been released three days earlier, and they were in the middle of a nationwide tour that was quickly gaining momentum. But tragedy struck that night in the pine woods of Gillsburg, Mississippi, in what would become one of rock music’s most infamous and devastating events.

A Flight Gone Horribly Wrong

The band had performed in Greenville, South Carolina, and boarded a Convair CV-240, a twin-engine aircraft built in the 1940s, to fly to their next gig in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A total of 26 people were aboard, including band members, crew, and flight staff.

Shortly before reaching their destination, both of the aircraft’s engines failed. The pilots, later found to have miscalculated fuel levels, had allowed the plane to run out of fuel mid-flight. With no power and no nearby airports, the crew attempted an emergency landing in a remote, wooded area near the Mississippi–Louisiana border.

The Crash and Its Immediate Toll

The aircraft clipped trees and slammed into the forest, tearing apart as it struck the ground. Six lives were lost in the crash:

• Ronnie Van Zant – Lead singer and founding member
• Steve Gaines – Guitarist
• Cassie Gaines – Backup vocalist and Steve’s sister
• Dean Kilpatrick – Assistant road manager
• Walter McCreary – Pilot
• William Gray – Co-pilot

The surviving 20 passengers were left battered and bleeding, many with serious injuries. Artimus Pyle, the band’s drummer, managed to crawl from the wreckage with broken ribs and walk several miles to a nearby farmhouse to get help. Other band members, including Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, and Billy Powell, suffered extensive injuries.

A Band Already on Edge

The crash felt all the more tragic given that concerns about the aircraft had been raised prior to the flight. Several band members were uneasy about the plane’s age and reported mechanical issues. The band had been in talks to switch to a more reliable aircraft—but the change didn’t come soon enough.

Ironically, Street Survivors had been released just days earlier with a now-infamous cover photo of the band surrounded by flames. After the crash, the record label quickly pulled the cover and replaced it out of respect for the deceased.

The Aftermath

Lynyrd Skynyrd disbanded immediately following the crash. It would be ten years before they reformed in 1987, with Johnny Van Zant, Ronnie’s younger brother, stepping in as lead singer. Though the lineup would never be the same, the spirit of the band endured, and they continued to tour and release music in the years that followed.

Today, the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash is remembered not only as a moment of tragedy but also as a turning point in rock history. The loss of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines left a void in Southern rock that can never be filled—but the legacy they built continues to inspire.

Their Music Lives On

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s songs—like “Free Bird,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Simple Man,” and “Tuesday’s Gone”—have become cornerstones of classic rock. Their music, full of Southern grit, soul, and storytelling, continues to resonate across generations.

Though the crash silenced some of the genre’s most powerful voices, their songs still soar.