Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash: The Devastating True Story

On October 20, 1977, three days after releasing their album Street Survivors, southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd performed at the Greenville Memorial Auditorium in Greenville, South Carolina, and boarded a Convair CV-240 airplane to take them to Baton Rouge, where they were to perform at Louisiana State University. The plane, known for having mechanical issues (a fact that terrified many of the band members), ran out of fuel nearing the end of the flight. The pilot attempted a crash landing, ending in a heartbreaking tragedy.
#lynyrdskynyrd #music #documentary

[@WeirdHistory]

What other music stories would you like Weird History to cover?

[@chucklove8709]

RANDY RHOADSS DEATH

[@markusjansa5351]

Buddy Holly,Steave and Cassy Gaines, Patsy Clyne,Ricky Nelson,John Denver and more

[@markusjansa5351]

Big Airplanes are normaly save! So why so many musicians die into private little Charter planes?? Randy Rhodes, Otis Redding, Aaliyah a.s.o.

[@spiritofmilwaukee27]

I would like to know more about Jim Morrison of The Doors. And Robert Johnson.

[@marksowers7196]

Elvis.

[@Azishome]

Never let a musician who believes he's going to be dead by the time he's thirty, bully you into taking a flight on a plane with obvious mechanical problems. It's that simple.

[@mybraineatseverything7404]

No shit, huh?!

[@mybraineatseverything7404]

@Untrepid One At night, no less!

[@intergalactic242]

They must've been high and drunk as shit and took it as a joke

[@lastweek3606]

Jim Porter I'm from Jacksonville Florida we have always heard Ronnie Vanzant did not want to get on that plane. Ronnie was the one that didn't want to fly. Allen Collins convinced him to do so. Ronnie Didn't even want to tour anymore. He didn't even want to be in Lynyrd Skynyrd anymore. He wanted to do country music because that's where his love for music was. He did not want to do that tour.

[@mr.breeze8796]

"If its your time... its your time...

[@eronacalloway9159]

I still have my ticket for that concert that never happened

[@boma2484]

Lie

[@waldoparsnip1025]

They were supposed to play in Evansville, Indiana that Saturday !

[@yolandajohnson8685]

Erona Calloway OOOOOLLLLLL!!!!!!!!! Put that ticket in a vault or better yet,. frame it in gold. You have a treasure!!!!!

[@lynn1464]

Erona that is so cool.

[@SaintElmo8]

@@yolandajohnson8685 the ticket is actually only worth about $200.00 US but I've seen them sell for as little as $100.... No vault necessary apparently.

[@4GivenbyIam]

Dude the 70's were a messed up time! "CONCERNED ABOUT THE PILOTS DRINKING HABITS?!"

[@caraf8727]

Benjamin Dominguez right? I can’t even believe that was allowed. Sheesh you’re not flying me drunk

[@mjfan653]

Hey man, you should have seen that plane, flying it sober would have just made things worse. Needed to take some courage for that ride!

[@tedperry6466]

@I ll that's why it's even more reason not to fly drunk or buzz. You need to have a clear head just in case some emergency happens. Like an engine catching fire. There are experts who blame pilot error on the cause of accident.

[@monkeywkeys3916]

Yeah, it was sorta like, Well some people smoke, some people drink, and some people don't.You knew those were not good but nobody banned it publicly. You could smoke in a hospitals cafeteria up until about the 80s.

[@PDZ1122]

Hahahah! It was 1959!

[@joycedunnell3182]

How that plane was still allowed to fly with so many issues and no efforts for repairs were made is beyond me......

[@Tornado1994]

The Aircraft at a 20% failure rate. But the Plane isn't at fault here. The Pilots are. They were both incredibly reckless and negligent idiots.

[@briangoldy8784]

Pilots.............Booze Hounds................

[@anonymousperson3023]

@@Tornado1994 stfu. Human errors are that and nothing more. Imagine if I called you names for human errors and another thing. This was the 70's. Things like that were normal

[@TheMercury-13]

So 'normal' that Aerosmith's '70s management refused the 'plane & pilots on safety grounds? 'Human error' doesn't cover 2 sober pilots who know 26 lives depend on basic fuel checks & not flying with known engine problems. www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR7806.pdf 'Crew failed to monitor fuel flow..failed to take appropriate pre-flight & maintenance action' - Baffling, totally avoidable, negligence.

[@thejkyle]

@@anonymousperson3023 read the report lol..

[@Violet-qk2vt]

I was born October 20, 1977. At 7:12pm... I came in as they went out, and have loved them my entire life, always wondered what the world missed with their passing. RIP..

[@jackiegoodspeed1849]

Wow.

[@alanmcneill2407]

They say the most beautiful of flowers, bloom for the shortest time. I believe it. They are somehow very alive, everytime I hear Sweet Home Alabama. We can not know what disastors await us, just round the corner. Enjoy your day, Violet...HEY! You are my favorite color!! Party on.

[@tracyguess8120]

@@alanmcneill2407I agree with you , loving the comment about the flowers, never heard that before, but I believe it now ❤️👏💯

[@gbrown932]

Reincarnation?

[@ParisAlexandros]

Billy Powell was my second cousin. Ironic twist to his death. He died of a heart attack two days after missing a cardiologist appointment

[@tomwilliams4885]

Billy Powell is absolutely the finest piano player I ever saw or heard play. Love his work in "The Breeze". He's the best.

[@chrisj197438]

WolfKnife10 A guy I worked with died in the waiting room of his cardiologist.

[@dandroid6201]

Sorry for your loss. I love his playing and he seemed like a really awesome guy.

[@anitajinfla9762]

My Dad saw Billy at Lowe's on Kingsley. He was telling my Dad ( who knew Billys Mom from working with her for years at NAS ) that they both had cardiologists in the same complex by OP Hosp. and he had an appointment coming up. Dad said.. I just saw mine.... So very sad Billy died. So sad many have died.... Billy was AWESOME playing the piano. Im sorry for your loss...

[@Bellatrix28618]

He had just gotten all his dental implants too and he was doing pretty well. Was having a rough time staying sober. May he RIP

[@imortalfawn4531]

It seems musicians and charter planes don't mix well.

[@yolandajohnson8685]

imortalfawn 45 hey!!!!! that's true!!!!! mmmmmmmmmmm

[@jojomarujo8704]

unless one of the band member(s) pilot the plane themselves (?)

[@jasonharris1636]

well said, mate! the same can be said of pilots & alcohol

[@melvinmarroquin1048]

@@jojomarujo8704 Iron Maiden Bruce Dickinson pilots their Ed Force One Boeing 747

[@donaldshelton9794]

Except for Jim Reeves

[@jr13227]

These guys were absolutely on fire when they crashed. It still hurts every time I think about how avoidable this crash was and what could’ve been.

[@dx1450]

Actually they weren't, the plane ran out of fuel. Yes, I know what you meant...

[@jr13227]

@@dx1450 look at the original street survivors cover. They literally were on fire lol.

[@dx1450]

@@jr13227 But yeah, like the video showed, had they not run out of fuel they literally would have been on fire. Street survivor, maybe, but not plane crash survivor.

[@mws755]

They would have ended up being the greatest band ever

[@candeegallagher560]

@@mws755"not ended up being" - they were the greatest band ever!

[@michaelkelligan7931]

........"and some concerns over the pilots drinking habits"....seriously!?!

[@Rizzbulla]

Times were different back then.

[@callumdonington2227]

It was the 70s

[@Galactis1]

Nonchalantly saying it like the guy does it all the time. It's like ok..... lol

[@Freekniggers]

I only drink after sunset, as long as we fly West we are good bro. Edit: seriously that is what I would say.

[@SubPablum]

When 1970's Aerosmith says you have a problem you should listen and consider it.

[@SuperGaleford]

You know when Aerosmith is worried about your drinking, that saying something.

[@aneurysm341]

He was tripping over people who were still alive, "he then took out his hatchet." What an odd choice of framing

[@6421rich]

I caught that to

[@jimmywoo7875]

SMASH SMASH SMASHHH

[@doriangray6735]

He wanted to put them out of their misery.

[@proudamerican5078]

I thought he was going to say “he then took out his hatchet and started copping them up to relieve them of their misery”.

[@benjamintaylor3934]

Sounds like an entry for the category "... and then the murders started" 😄

[@everaldodejesus4018]

RIP Gary Rossington. 12/4/51-3/5/23. He was the band's last surviving founding member, to pass away at 71.

[@97warlock]

what about Artimus? I know he came along 4 years later or before the end but still a solid member

[@dearjonboy]

"no one anticipated the tragedy...." well apart from Aerosmith who refused to fly in it...

[@dx1450]

I don't think that's a fair statement, seems like several of them were concerned enough to tell Van Zant to get another plane. I think many of them were anticipating it, even if they didn't know it was going to happen until it did.

[@hobinrood710]

It is a fair statement though. Steven Tyler's father is a pilot and examined the plane before they even bought it. Find "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith and Stephen Davis. That will be the proof. At least their point of view.

[@theSword-]

And there was a "mock" crash drill by the hospital crew, as if they were expecting it a week earlier.

[@johnhall2939]

There was a member of the band who had a dream and she warned the band not to fly on that airplane. She just happened to be sick the day of the flight and that's why the backup singer was there. This lady later is known to become a Christian minister.

[@tedbundy3729]

You didn't mention that Cassie Gaines canceled her commercial airplane ticket de to teasing from others in the band, that is why she was on the plane.

[@yolandajohnson8685]

Ted Bundy they also didn't mention that they were to meet Linda Blair to pick up whatever!!!!!!! that's the story a DJ on a classic rock station told

[@daniellemilia1974]

Oh hell nooo!!! Not Ted Bundy lmao

[@NoseCandyKermit]

@@daniellemilia1974 of course he would know that... hes Ted Bundy

[@plushman3685]

Then Ted Bundy gave her a ride from the airport in his yellow Volkswagon

[@chrise.321]

No one gets out alive.

[@kickbuttbigtime]

The memory of Lynryd Skynyrd lives on!! My dad use to kick my ass with his Lynryd Skynyrd belt. I would say "Give me 3 steps" 😄

[@zach346]

ugk74 Lmao wtf

[@renneedwards9826]

LMFAOOO 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@joleneloveland2942]

Thats a good one. Ronnie would've appreciated that as well!

[@lettyguerra371]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🏆🍾🥂❤❤❤❤🇺🇲👏

[@michaelfieno53]

This is so sad and Cassie was such an amazing backup singer .

[@joleneloveland2942]

So, so young!

[@Vikinggirl1679]

Yes the Gaines lost two children that night

[@les338]

Yes I was there at the emergency room in McComb Miss when they brought in the survivors. It was a terrible thing that happened that evening and I will never forget it, Rest in Peace LS!

[@ciscobudge159]

They should have given those freaks proper short haircuts.

[@truthhurtz2793]

@@ciscobudge159………… Wow

[@Carolina_Leadslingers]

Cisco, go fuck yourself

[@JamesLee-lk4kx]

@@Carolina_Leadslingers the guys name is cisco lmfao,I think that's punishment enough having to go through life with that name,lmfao.

[@julieannblack3]

I was a schoolgirl in that year and heard the sirens in mccomb. I believe the plane went down in Osyka, ms.

[@georgeharleydavidsonrider156]

It’s been 40 years. Seems like yesterday. RIP the lost souls who passed that night .

[@tlgtlg3803]

TOO MUCH COKE & TOO MUCH SMOKE,,

[@garycarpenter6433]

I can't believe it's been that long

[@tonymctony4551]

What a talented band skynyrd was . They were a great rock and roll band . Hard to believe they tried to carry on as skynyrd after the crash. You just cant carry that band on without Ronnie .

[@stevenkrupka7852]

Or Gaines,great voice! Bad A@@ guitar player.

[@tiedyehobo]

They just played the songs still. The creativity was gone.

[@nsbchannel1]

I was working on my instrument rating with a former airline pilot back in early fall of 1977 at Greenville Municipal Airport. We taxied past a Convair that had been sitting there for at least a few days. My instructor told me it was for sale for $90,000 but it had a bad jug in one of the radial engines, is what he said. It was old looking, but had an electric piano inside, and a sofa. It was like a charter plane. It sat there for a few more days I guess, then it was gone. Years later, I heard about the Skynyrd crash, and that it was on a Convair. It was the same plane.

[@dishrod3516]

I love the original music. Listen to it almost daily. Makes me wonder what songs were in Ronnie’s head that we would never get to hear.

[@rohaniyer4218]

RIP to a band that still means and will continue to mean, SO MUCH!!!!

[@martinvanburen6528]

Gary Rossington Is alive

[@rohaniyer4218]

And he is the ONLY remaining member, but Thanks

[@maureensantiago449]

simple man was their crown jewel. no song compares to it. a masterpiece.

[@davidwright8371]

Here a fun fact the lead singer of showdown did a cover (wells that's pretty known) but since he's married to Ronnie van zandts daughter all the songwriters royalties stayed in the family It's like writing a hit song twice

[@luckybassturd7260]

'Write it in song', is a good 'un too.

[@facethestrange15yearsago81]

You're right, I just yelled at Alexa to play it. I'm listening to it now 🙂

[@toobmaniac]

Maureen Santiago To you i guess no other song compares but music is a personal preference matter..You may have lots of people who agree but it's still a personal preference and preferences vary wildly and no one is incorrect when speaking of their own personal preference...

[@bobderanged4672]

@@davidwright8371 Brent Smith was never married to Ronnie Van Zandt's daughter. Jason Todd was dating Ronnie's daughter and Shinedown kind of was the house band at the bar owned by Ronnie's widow and daughter.

[@cadillacbluez]

I know some folks don't agree but there should no longer be a Lynyrd Skynyrd. Trying to replace Ronnie is not even possible so lets celebrate the real band for the great rock n roll they gave us and go fishing in the rain.

[@robsmithracing]

“Good morning ladies and gentlemen, thank you for flying Buddy Holly airways, now sit back and relax and listen to a little Glenn Miller while we negotiate these storm fronts and divert via the Bermuda Triangle”

[@funecheeseofficial3576]

BUDDY HOLLY AIRLINES 😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@sirboomsalot4902]

@@funecheeseofficial3576 That Glenn Miller reference though

[@joleneloveland2942]

I met Ronnie in 1975. There was no fuel lost in transferring from one engine to the other. It's a myth. There was no fuel to transfer to the other engine. The transferring lever was found to be shut (never used) in the plane wreckage. The pilots found that the second engine was nearly empty, so when it ran out, they crashed. The NTSB ruled pilot error for failing to top off the fuel tanks, even though the gages on those old planes were not very reliable.

[@mikelunsford2587]

Exactly how I heard this

[@timj8151]

Mark Frank survived and went for help. That was a neighbor of ours.

[@Daniel-ng7oe]

Did he ever talk about the crash to you?

[@tomwilliams4885]

" my baby's gone. . . with the wind." Love ' em.

[@gumbybr]

I seen the last concert in Greenville, SC & it was great. I couldn’t believe it when I heard the news about the plane crash. They were such an awesome group & I still get sad about it today. Free Bird was the last song they played that night & I still have my ticket stub.

[@lancehurley9743]

Skynyrd died Oct 20 1977...period...

[@williamschuman4951]

Yep, seen them 74 Long Beach arena CA

[@81kentboy]

His brother Johnny seems like the nicest guy but he can't sing for shit. Seriously.

[@brt-jn7kg]

My wedding anniversary

[@ClintE55]

I agree. I think it's a shame their family keeps using the name.

[@BullseyeForever24]

Amen!! Nuff said

[@poutinedream5066]

When he said "he quickly took out his hatchet and started " I thought he was gonna say "finishing them off."

[@hereticpariah6_66]

_"...well, some of 'em _*_said_*_ they's alive, but they's hippies and tend to lie a lot..."_

[@darrelllambert6059]

Ronnie Van Zant truly was a rock and roll icon we will never forget Lynyrd Skynyrd you truly are an icon Ronnie Van Zant

[@Callmethebreeze902]

As for me, he was the magic. ❤

[@tabathafeucht3513]

My aunt still has the ticket from the Lakeland show. It's in a case with the original street survivor album. She willed it to me when she passed away. Long live Skynyrd. Yall are a great part of my childhood.

[@kyleshiflet7932]

My dad remembers the news he cried when he heard it RIP to the victims

[@johnoman6617]

I remember the plane crash. Walter Cronkite mispronounced Lynyrd Skynyrd in his news story.

[@kyleshiflet7932]

Wow really

[@lsunationalchamps08]

Kyle Shiflet My dad had tickets for the Baton Rouge show that they were flying to when they crashed. He was lucky enough to see them twice before the crash.

[@stingylizard]

@Tommy Hammernots You are what you eat!

[@davidharrison7366]

He did?

[@Bauks]

Miss a venue, or two, and live. Or, Miss all the venues altogether. Can you imagine if they had a few more years to jam out. We all missed out.

[@lynn1464]

I so agree

[@dub2536]

True that! Sad but true! : ( RIP

[@bill2527]

Just think of the albums that would have come out after SS they would have been the biggest band ever. What a shame Ronnie didn't listen to their advice about that damn plane!!

[@joleneloveland2942]

@@bill2527 Their manager made the decision to lease the plane with possible intent to buy it and probably never heard about Aerosmith's complaints. So the band was basically stuck with that mode of transportation and had schedules to meet.

[@pameladecicco6509]

@@joleneloveland2942 I have nothing good to say about P.R....

[@ryansgirl2002]

World's greatest band, I've been a fan my entire life. My favorite band of all time. God bless you Ronnie, and your dad Lacy...his heart isn't broken anymore. God bless the world's most talented guitarist: Allen Collins....oh how I've adored you. God bless Steve, Billy, Cassie and the rest of the guys-i know heaven is rockin'. May God also bless Artimus, you're such a good guy and I am proud and inspired by your kind heart and how you've held your head high despite it all since the crash. And God bless Gary, Johnny and the current Skynyrd along with Ronnie's firstborn daughter Tammy and all those keeping the memory alive. 💙

[@vacool9421]

Wow that was very nice of you miss cobra..Have a good 1!

[@radiocontrolled9181]

You fakin god had better done something to avoid the crash before they died if he is so loving and powerful. Fu*K god it's just a man-made invention.

[@DH-tr6ni]

R.I.P. One of the best bands of its time

[@yolandajohnson8685]

D H THE BEST BAND OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!

[@Cutthecamerasdeadass1899]

Nah

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

I got to see the original Lynyrd Skynyrd band in Louisville Ky. before the crash. Great show! Rip.

[@timothykissinger4883]

Artimus Pyle's hometown.

[@vincebalosky771]

Yes I was fortunate enough to see the original lineup 1977 Soldiers Field Long Live Lynyrd Skynyrd

[@smokey749]

Knoxville TN. 77

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

April 23, 1977 Louisville Gardens, Louisville, KY. Two days later, on April 25, 1977 I seen Led Zeppelin live at Ky Fairgrounds. Both shows were friggin awesome!

[@reillymoore3257]

Seen them on the last tour, JFK Memorial Stadium in Pennsylvania. They were opening for Peter Frampton, but they stole the show - by the time Frampton came on, most people had left.

[@jerrybishop2115]

Cassie should have stuck with her gut feelings and stayed on commercial flights.... Its really sad 😒

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

You couldn't afford it as a backup singer. I'm sure plane tickets were much more expensive then.

[@jerrybishop2115]

@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 good though

[@hemihead001]

I bought the Street Survivors Album 2 days before they died . Wish I still had it .

[@stellaercolani3810]

We love this band. What a tragedy. They will be remembered always!

[@News.channel.]

Skynyrd is the best band in the world

[@saucybaka4439]

This is what happens when you let alcoholics do anything. Should've got a different pilot. As a recovering alcoholic, NEVER TRUST ONE

[@LoneWolf-yp2mo]

That's cold man .....

[@saucybaka4439]

@PinkGuy VEVO yeah man I'll pick you up around 8

[@saucybaka4439]

@@LoneWolf-yp2mo cold, but true

[@LoneWolf-yp2mo]

I'm a recovering alcoholic of 30+ years. I've been trusted with many peoples LIVES on more than one occasion. I can be trusted to do the right thing. I know better than to get trashed anymore. Give yourself some credit too. Just the fact that you feel guilt tells me you are worth taking a chance on .... you're a better man than you think. God Bless you Sir !!

[@toddlavigne6441]

the plane, according to Aerosmith's pilot was poorly maintained and was an accident waiting to happen. Aerosmith declined leasing this plane because it was unsafe.

[@pault8470]

Top top guitarists

[@yolandajohnson8685]

Dan Cooper in TRUE THAT!!!!!!

[@kimberlyj.sullivan9304]

My ex husband actually declined to go on that flight with Ronnie & the band, due to his fear of flying. Only a few hours prior before take off, they shared a few shots of whiskey. He still owns the shot glass.

[@brooksh.3775]

Bs

[@MAMAGOO21123]

Kimberly J. Sullivan I believe you Kimberly, that’s a crazy story!!

[@facethestrange15yearsago81]

It could be true, I wouldn't fly on that turd of a plane if it had issue on an earlier flight. Fuck that

[@massiveferguson9466]

Shut up weirdos.

[@facethestrange15yearsago81]

Turd Ferguson

[@RickyPisano]

Saw them on this tour in Springfield, Massachusetts in July. A memory I'll never forget.

[@renatacantore3684]

Thank you for telling us about this terrible accident. I remember when it happened. It was one of the worst years in music history.

[@ForeverAlansGirl]

This is so tragic, it has always haunted me. Sometimes it is for bands just not to be, just as it was for Badfinger. It's heartbreaking & all you can do is wonder why. 😢😢😢

[@chrisvesy7245]

Every road trip I take I pop in the Gold & Platinum CD and enjoy the ride!

[@adabofeverything7120]

I own that album on vinyl ❤

[@chrisvesy7245]

@@adabofeverything7120 Haha!! I first had it on cassette tape!😎✌

[@adabofeverything7120]

Epic

[@unclefreddieDied]

I did too... gave my records to my daughter

[@billythekid6418]

Should try "Skynyrd essentials" there the holy grails

[@onetallpheeesh]

Mans really told her "No. We will not miss the concert. Even if we have to die to make it happen."

[@gc6096]

Now they’re all truly truly gone R.I.P to them all.

[@malcolmr3]

Saw them in their last concert and I’ll never forget that day 10/19/77. Such a huge loss, I can’t bring myself to see them, as they exist, after that night. They were the heart and soul of what “southern rock” was, they’re death was the end of that genre IMHO.

[@becca53444]

I’ve heard enough cases like this to never get on a small/private plane ever. Or helicopters. Nope. Commercial planes only.

[@pilotgal6191]

The principles of flight are the same for large planes as for small planes. Wind over the wings create lift and you need a fuel source. That’s basically it. So, don’t be afraid of small planes. Millions of flights occur every single day without incident. It’s rarely the plane that fails. It’s almost always pilot error. It actually takes a lot to bring down a plane. In this case, it was fuel starvation. In a nutshell, they ran out of gas because the pilots accidentally jettisoned the fuel instead of transferring it to the other engine. So, that’s my 2 cents. 🙂

[@Kurty94]

​@@pilotgal6191 We don't know if they dumped a fuel, but it doesn't change the fact that somebody fucked it up with tanking not enough fuel... that's why the engines stopped working imo

[@TheMercury-13]

*Patsy Cline. She'd declined a car ride back saying "Don't worry about me, when it's my time to go, it's my time to go", similar to what Ronnie said on boarding his plane.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

@@pilotgal6191 That can't be right. It's too dumb.

[@vintaqe_vibez5978]

Aaliyah was the one that made me swore to never get on a small plane. Nope! I'll rent a car or go on a bus if there's no other option.

[@AlecioG]

Don't forget 2 of the remaining members, Allen Collins and Gary Rossington created the rossington collins band after the crash. This new band was by no means a lynyrd skynyrd continuation, but it was heavily influenced by the former bands southern sound.

[@stingylizard]

Awesome album recorded in El Paso,Texas at Adobe Studio.

[@vmat1000]

In my top 5 of fave bands.

[@dominiquenorth4543]

Wow. Damn god bless their soul. Still living legends and pioneers to the genre of music

[@SmackWaterJack001]

*NOBODY DOES IT LIKE SKYNYRD*

[@brianboisguilbert6985]

October 20, 1977, Was working on a turbine engine in a Navy LCU at a shipyard in San Pedro CA, we were on break, drinking coffee and listening to a local rock station on a portable radio, when the DJ lifted the needle off the record that was playing and quietly, sadly reported that Lynyrd Skynrd's plane had crashed, all of us just sat there stunned. Later we nicknamed the LCU the "Free Bird", to honor the band.

[@TinaAWall-xc6cz]

Thank you for the actual truth about what happened. I didn't know anything about the details.

[@joleneloveland2942]

Not all of that is true.

[@jeffreykjones2748]

Hearing this on the news made me sick, being from the south and being a huge fan of their music . They spoke for a generation that partied hard and were blue collar ordinary people. Their music will live on for generations 2 come. Rip

[@dubz1020]

My dad was at the Greenville concert. It was his 20th b-day.

[@kimmyb1041]

Just saw them in Biloxi MS. December 8th! Amazing how they still have mostly the same sounding voices, after all the changes they've been through

[@davidharrison9893]

And Allen Collins was the one that Ronnie told that to. Allen was scared to death & DID NOT want to get on it. Ronnie said ''Get your ass on that plane, if it's your time to go it's your time to go". And as a family member I DO NOT LIKE OR APPRECIATE THE WAY SAID ''As Dean Kilpatrick lay dead in a swamp". REALLY MAN??? WOW!!!!!

[@shawngreenforussenate6277]

God bless that town for coming to the rescue.

[@laz288]

Where do you guys get your data. Do you make it up? The pilots did not Jettison fuel nor did they not transfer fuel. Poor fuel management and monitoring was the reason for the crash. The bad engine did consume more fuel but leading up the final flight they fueled up along the way adding 200 gallons at one stop and a few hundred at another, etc. They did not do a visual fuel inspection and they poorly calculated the remaining gallons prior to the last flight. At least pull the NTSB report first. Makes me wonder how many other of your videos are accurate.

[@brt-jn7kg]

Not to mention that when they run out of fuel they decided to leave the gear down by while crashing into trees. Instead of trying to land in the wide-open area and belly flop. Course it was probably a gun Sam that they were out of fuel or they would have all burned to death. Piss poor planning results in piss poor performance! Pilot error and incompetence killed the band.

[@hammeredwithhorror]

Exactly! The plane should have NEVER been allowed to take off. The fuel gauge was actually broken and had to be checked with a stick which they did NOT do! Their flight from Miami flames were shooting out of one of the engines and instead of hiring somebody to fix the problem the company leasing the plane wanted to use their own mechanics in Baton Rouge. In order to keep the engines going they were using an enriched fuel that burned faster than normal. So the decision to not stop in McComb,MS was what sealed their fate and it was 100% pilot's negligence to not know the fuel situation. Being out of fuel saved everybody from being burnt to a crisp! The leasing company should have grounded the plane straight away.

[@Tornado1994]

The Two Pilots were Drunken dumbasses who half assed all protocol. They failed to Check the Fuel Gauge and Failed to Inspect the Fuselage

[@MultiKwolf]

they dint. But you did. Regardless of it their videos is racking up a ton of viewers and likes while your little "Self proclaimed fact" sits down here collecting dust as it should be. Get a life Loser.

[@TheMercury-13]

Definition of 'loser' is subjective, but 'Get a life Loser' is the kind've thing only losers say.

[@MajorJakas]

For the sake of making it to one concert, they gave up the chance to perform all future concerts. One of the greatest bands of all time died senselessly.

[@honeyboysmith6587]

I was 4 months old when this plane crash happended . Today I can really appreciate their music . Their style was awesome. That Freebird solo is so bad ass . Music is just not made like this anymore.

[@metalmaniac6456]

Rip ronnie van zant

[@gregorybrian]

Fun fact: the members of the original line up hated the idea of being labeled a “Southern“ band. Their goal was to become the Rolling Stones of the United States. It’s mostly geography that was used to typify them as “Southern.“ And much to the surprise of many people today, they were not “conservative“ artists. In fact, they were extremely progressive for their time. Aside from being long-haired Southern boys (long hair on men being considered taboo by crew-cut-wearing men at the time), they wrote songs about gun violence, environmental degradation, racial injustice, etc. Hell. They even rallied for Jimmy Carter! They wanted the South to break out of its backward-thinking ways on its own by championing the great people and ideas that the South could produce. The Confederate battle flag? That was foisted upon them by their management as a publicity stunt. Sweet Home Alabama? Mockery of the backward ways of many of their fellow Southerners. Disbelieve this if you like but all of it was documented through interviews with the members and people who knew them.

[@vacool9421]

Yeah.they did let the management run the show though...I'm not a huge fan.I thought most of the music too depressing..plus dude shamed them into getting on that plane...

[@TheMercury-13]

Sickly ironic when they miss who L'S really were & tag on the far-right politics, same 1s who somehow miss the cynicism of 'Born in the USA'. 'Sweet Home Alabama' was a jokey re-buff to the idea all Southerners were small-minded bigots, not an anthem for those bigots. RVZ: "We wrote 'Alabama as a joke. We didn't even think about it, the words just came out that way. We just laughed like hell, & said 'Ain't that funny'. We love Neil Young, we love his music"

[@LynnS-gd8wq]

Fun Fact: people weren't that political then. No one thought anything about the rebel flag...it was about southern pride...nothing to do with racism. All the guys had long hair then had nothing to do with right or left, most of us didn't even know what that meant. There were NO crew cuts unless you were raised on a pig farm somewhere. People just got together, smoked a little pot, drank and nobody cared or identified with politics.

[@markusjansa5351]

When time comes, it comes..rest in peace ! We enjoy thanksfull your music !!

[@GMoneyDon]

I live in greenville where the last concert took place..the venue was tore down years ago..I pass the airport weekly in and out of town and think about that day sometimes...I didnt go to the last show but I obtained a tour book from that show years later..I may Ebay it..it was sealed but I F#%ked up and opened it,, the pictures are beautiful and timeless .RIP LS BAND

[@Imnotyourdoormat]

and now we,ve lost Ed King too......1 by 1 their all leaving.

[@Imnotyourdoormat]

no doubt about that...1 by 1.

[@joleneloveland2942]

That's what life and old age will do to you.

[@andrebryant516]

Jacksonville fla my home town they grew up near my grandma

[@marieprovencio7073]

Still miss them so very much beyond words today

[@mikelunsford2587]

I was 12 years old working on the weekend getting newspaper subscriptions and the van I was in that took us kid's from orange park florida to an apartment community in Jacksonville had dropped us off and we each went knocking on doors by ourselves and I knocked on my first customers door when member's of Lynyrd Skynyrd opened the door and invited me inside, asked if I wanted a beer and said, "do you know who we are"? I said no... and someone said we're Lynyrd Skynyrd, look on this wall. Where they took me further into the apartment and on the back wall, about 15 feet inside the apartment, was a wall where decorated albums were displayed. And someone pointed out, that's a gold album, you ever seen a gold album kid? And then another person interrupted, and Said, hey kid, you want a beer? And I know Ronnie said leave him alone, he's just a kid. Then I exited.

[@DM_21]

Wow, that is some kind of memory. The 'Lamont At Large ' channel presents an excellent video reviewing this tragic plane crash. I thought that you might want to watch it

[@mikelunsford2587]

@@DM_21 I've seen a couple of them

[@DM_21]

@@mikelunsford2587 oh, yeah! He is a man of integrity who presents great videos with dignity and respect for the subject matter.

[@r.d.7274]

I was fortunate to see them live back in the 1970s at the JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, PA. I was planning on seeing them again at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia where they were scheduled to appear, but their plane crashed just a couple of months before that. I thought the world of Lynyrd Skynyrd back then, and what a tragic loss this was.

[@dannyburch2122]

Yeah remember this into local radio getting ready to go to high school that morning whbc the Canton Ohio R.I.P

[@TheWolfeDen]

I'm from Greenville, SC and can confirm- the Skynrd love in the Carolinas is REAL

[@hayleybmadiggunter6798]

Anderson sc feels the same

[@kevinallentoole1538]

I learned how to play sweet Home alabama on Brickyard rd . at a friends house who lived a couple houses down from Ronnie vanzants house , i grew up in o.p florida outside jaxville .when i was younger i used to cut thru the cemetery where Ronnie was buried , people always left bottles of jackDaniels poems also charlie Daniels had a bench put there with a poem on it Lynyrd Skynyrd is the most epic of all Southern Rock 904 Forever........ Fly on Freebird.........

[@MrSpankee02]

You know things are bad when mid 70s Aerosmith are making better decisions than you.

[@extolzebulon9831]

Such a huge loss.

[@bridgitgilmore]

I loved them then and now. Remember the day they crashed and how we cried. I was blessed to see them in Glasgow, Scotland a few years ago. Fab show, so glad I went!

[@jmfa57]

I remember when that plane went down. I was in my sophomore year in college. My circle of friends loved this band. Sad memories.

[@jameskelman9856]

Well done! Thanks !

[@charlespeterwatson9051]

Artimus Pyle was shot in the shoulder trying to get help. Also, the "Street Survivors" album was re-released with a black cover because of its image of the band members being consumed by fire.

[@vacool9421]

You mean shot by a stranger..jeez.. really?

[@smallabrasion526]

No he was not. My girlfriends grandfather transported him on the back of his pickup truck to the main road to an ambulance. It crashed on their farm

[@chrisledbetter9278]

Charles Peter Watson Not true

[@catliftresearch]

There was a warning shot fired because they looked like zombies when approaching Mote's property. From what I was told the plane hitting the trees sounded similar to gunshots to nearby residents.

[@smallabrasion526]

catliftresearch no. No one from the crash walked out of it without rescue getting there first “it was silent and eerie. Helicopter hovering over. No screaming just a few call voices saying help or over here.”

[@lianefehrle9921]

I was there watching them play in that last concert. There was a fight that broke out in the back of the crowd and Eddie told them that it would be the last time that they would play there songs in this town. I hear that voice saying that more than I remember the concert. It was the last time they played anything. I cried when I found out about the crash.

[@ppg4667]

You forgot the part where VanZant was calling himself and telling everyone that he was the "Mississippi kid" before the next leg of the tour, all while never being to that state before in his life untill his plane crashed there.

[@ceil5001]

Wow, fantastic video! I am definitely subscribing after watching this. I remember me and my bff from high school going on vacation to Ocean City MD in '79 and we bought Lynard Skynard hats. We wore them everywhere we went! And man, were we ever cute lol...

[@WeirdHistory]

Thanks for the sub!

[@centuryrox]

Spent many summers at OC MD in my childhood and young adult life! Mostly drunken during the adult life era. LOL Loved every minute down there! As they say here in Baltimore, "Downy ocean, hon".

[@KimChilds75]

Somebody needs to get that poor girl some aloe, sunscreen, & a shirt. Jesus, it's painful just looking at her sunburn.

[@patpatterson6073]

Great band for such a short time!

[@nathanallen9265]

My grandfather was at that last show in Greenville.

[@extrastype]

The plane was junk and so was the pilot. Other rock bands said no way.

[@2009korz]

Drummer Bob Burns died in a Car Crash in 2016. Burns was replaced by Pyle Guitarist Ed King died earlier this year. King was replaced by Gaines

[@lisahatton5718]

Can you imagine how their music would be today if this would have never happened?? Why is it that we loose so many of our beloved entertainers this way..I was born the year this happened..My daddy is a huge fan of theirs...I have twin brother's and when they were baby's,their Nick name's were Lynyrd and Skynyrd...Keep on rockin... Sending love from Ohio!!!!

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very nicely put together video. Thanks for posting this.

[@midninteranger4315]

Skynyard best band ever the original one of course.

[@davidstaudohar6268]

So Sad Driven by Greed Fame Power RIP 🌹🌻🇺🇸👍 Flowers 4 U Guys 🌹🌹🌹

[@robert.m4676]

I can still remember how crappy 77 was to music! Elvis and Lynyrd Skynyrd in same year! What in the hell! Skynyrd’s pronounced Lynyrd Skynyrd is still my favorite record ever! The whole album is perfect ! Not too many bands can put out a record where every single song is killer! But That album was amazing!

[@sabrehill1]

Such a shame. What could have been.