Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash
What is lynyrd skynyrd plane crash?
Key facts
The Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash was the October 20, 1977 crash of the band’s chartered Convair CV-240 near Gillsburg, Mississippi, caused by fuel exhaustion.
Context
The Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash happened on October 20, 1977, when the band’s chartered Convair CV-240 ran out of fuel and crashed near Gillsburg, Mississippi [1]. The NTSB later determined the probable cause was fuel exhaustion and total loss of power from both engines due to crew inattention to fuel supply [1]. The flight was en route from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana [2]. Six people died, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines [1]. The crash abruptly halted the band’s career until they later re-formed [1].
Documented claims
- The crash occurred during a flight from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. [2]
- The people killed included Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, Dean Kilpatrick, Walter McCreary, and William Gray. [1]
- The aircraft attempted an emergency landing before crashing in a heavily wooded area. [2]
- The event abruptly halted Lynyrd Skynyrd’s career until the band later re-formed. [1]
Questions and answers
Which members of Lynyrd Skynyrd died in a plane crash?
Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines were among the six people killed in the crash [1].
Who survived the plane crash of Lynyrd Skynyrd?
Twenty people survived the crash, including several band members and crew [1].
What caused the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash?
The NTSB cited fuel exhaustion and total loss of power from both engines due to crew inattention to fuel supply as the probable cause [1].
Sources
- Inside The Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1977 Plane Crash — pmamagazine.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- Street Survivors: The True Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash (2020) — imdb.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)