Street Survivors: The Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Tragic Plane Crash

Last photo taken of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Greenville, SC Oct 19, 1977

One of the most tragic moments in rock history happened 45 years ago today. On October 20th, 1977, the rock-n-roll landscape was forever changed. A plane carrying the band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, crashed in Gillsburg, Mississippi killing 6 out of the 26 passengers. Among the dead were the band’s frontman Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines, who died on impact. Skynyrd manager Dean Kilpatrick, as well as the plane's two pilots Walter McCreary and William Gray also perished.

Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, Asbury Park, NJ 1977

The band had departed from Greenville, South Carolina for Baton Rouge to play a date at LSU as part of the Street Survivors tour. The flight was supposed to be the last for the band’s plane as the plan was to upgrade from an outdated Convair CV-240 to a Learjet in Baton Rouge. The plane 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 vessel nor crew were up to standards.

The final straw came when they allegedly witnessed pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray passing a bottle of Jack Daniel’s back and forth. The plane may have held up, but the pilots failed their inspection, and that is why you are reading about Lynyrd Skynyrd instead of Aerosmith right now. The plane ran out of gas en route to Louisiana and the pilots made an attempt to land at the McComb Airport to refuel. Instead, the plane crash-landed onto a property on Easley Road in Gillsburg.

The craft skimmed the treetops before hitting a large tree with full force. The plane broke apart on impact. The area was very swampy and thick which hampered rescue efforts. Three days before the crash the band released its fifth album, Street Survivors, which featured the future classics "What's Your Name" and "That Smell." The album cover, which featured the band seemingly engulfed in flames was deemed poor taste following the crash so it was eventually substituted with another photo in light of the horrific plane crash.

Me, Dad, and Gene - Lynyrd's Skynyrd's head of security and crash survivor

I caught up with Lynyrd's Skynyrd's head of security Gene Odom at the crash site who was on the plane and one of the survivors. He recalled the state of Ronnie Van Zant's body after the fatal crash: "Ronnie Van Zant had an eight-inch little nick and a fractured bone in his leg." His own father, when he went to identify the body the next day said that when they pulled Ronnie out, Ronnie looked like he was asleep. No injuries. He said that he just had a little bump right behind his ear - a little cut. Gene also stated that the band and entourage didn’t want to fly on the plane but was persuaded by Van Sant saying "if it’s our time to go, it’s our time to go."

A decade after the plane crash, the surviving members of Skynyrd regrouped under the legendary name and played a series of dates to mark the anniversary with Johnny Van Zant, the youngest brother of Ronnie Van Zant, stepping in as his permanent replacement. 45 years later their music still resonates to multiple generations and the answer to If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me, would be you got that right!

My dad at the memorial on our recent visit

Today, there is a moving memorial commemorating the victims at the crash site. Visiting is is easy, as there are multiple signs to help guide you. Are you planning a Lynyrd Skynyrd road trip? Maybe you'll be lucky to bump into Gene like we did! Such a thrill.

ADDRESS: 7364 Easley Rd, Magnolia, MS

DIRECTIONS:

I-55 exit 8 at official Skynyrd Crash exit signs. Drive west on MS-568 for 7.5 miles. Turn left onto Easley Rd. You'll see the monument ahead, on the right.

Happy travels!