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Three members of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd die in a Mississippi plane crash
History.Com(This Day in History) ^ | 10/20/2017 | staff

Posted on 10/20/2017 7:06:42 AM PDT by Kid Shelleen

In the summer of 1977, members of the rock band Aerosmith inspected an airplane they were considering chartering for their upcoming tour—a Convair 240 operated out of Addison, Texas. Concerns over the flight crew led Aerosmith to look elsewhere—a decision that saved one band but doomed another. The aircraft in question was instead chartered by the band Lynyrd Skynyrd, who were just setting out that autumn on a national tour that promised to be their biggest to date. On this day in 1977, however, during a flight from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s tour plane crashed in a heavily wooded area of southeastern Mississippi during a failed emergency landing attempt, killing band-members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines as well as the band’s assistant road manager and the plane’s pilot and co-pilot. Twenty others survived the crash.

(Excerpt) Read more at history.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
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To: Popman
Funny story...one of my grand kids had me listen to a great new song he found.... “Free bird”

Had the same thing happen with my son when he was in 10th grade about 10 yrs ago. Wanted me to hear this very 'rad' song by this new band he found.."Stairway to Heaven"
21 posted on 10/20/2017 7:34:45 AM PDT by ratzoe (damn, I miss Barbara Olson)
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To: Kid Shelleen

I had seen them two or three years earlier at the Ozark Music Festival in Sedalia, the midwest’s version of Woodstock. I was doing the dad thing for my one year old, finished my six years in the Guard the year before, and oblivious to the world around me in many ways. Had a friend a few years later that was related to Van Zant — he shot out his television one night.

Heard them live again in ‘97 with my new love. She said she felt under dressed due to the lack of ink.


22 posted on 10/20/2017 7:35:25 AM PDT by KC Burke (If all the world is a stage, I would like to request my lighting be adjusted.)
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To: Kid Shelleen

I was the platoon leader of a 4.2 mortar platoon in an armor battalion Germany.


23 posted on 10/20/2017 7:37:44 AM PDT by bravo whiskey (Never bring a liberal gun law to a gun fight.)
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To: dfwgator

Ronnie Van Zant is the one who ‘discovered’ Molly Hatchet and worked on arrangements of their songs and provided the recording space for their first demos.

He was also going to be the producer of their first album.


24 posted on 10/20/2017 7:38:32 AM PDT by Rebelbase (There are only two genders. The rest are mental disorders.)
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To: Rebelbase

Pretty much all of the Southern bands were close, they had more of a sibling rivalry, but they all respected each other.


25 posted on 10/20/2017 7:39:51 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: rochester_veteran

Legend has it Ronnie Van Zant was buried in the same Neil Young concert t-shirt he’s wearing in that album cover photo.


26 posted on 10/20/2017 7:40:44 AM PDT by Drew68
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To: Kid Shelleen

I was 24...young married....think we were at Griffiss AFB at the time....the salad days as I recall...wonderful memories...


27 posted on 10/20/2017 7:42:07 AM PDT by cherry
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To: Drew68
Legend has it Ronnie Van Zant was buried in the same Neil Young concert t-shirt he’s wearing in that album cover photo.

I didn't know that! Thanks for sharing the legend!

28 posted on 10/20/2017 7:43:39 AM PDT by rochester_veteran (All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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To: Kid Shelleen

The first part makes it sound like there was something wrong with the aircraft, but in the end it sounds like they just ran out of fuel. Was there a problem or was it pilot error that cause the crash?


29 posted on 10/20/2017 7:43:40 AM PDT by bigbob (People say believe half of what you see son and none of what you hear - M. Gaye)
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To: cherry
and I can't remember if I even heard the news about Leonard Skynyrd...

but I can't tell you where I was when Thurmond Munson died...

30 posted on 10/20/2017 7:44:09 AM PDT by cherry
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To: Sybeck1

“Wasnt a movie squashed?”

IMO from what I’ve read in the past, there’s bad blood between Artimus Pyle and Gary Rossington and Judy Van Zant—Ronnie’s widow.

IIRC, Rossington and Ms. Van Zant control the Skynyrd name.

Pyle is SOL.


31 posted on 10/20/2017 7:45:29 AM PDT by Rebelbase (There are only two genders. The rest are mental disorders.)
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To: bigbob

Pilots didn’t measure the fuel tanks correctly prior to take-off.


32 posted on 10/20/2017 7:46:52 AM PDT by Rebelbase (There are only two genders. The rest are mental disorders.)
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To: Rebelbase

Ah. Yeah, that’ll do it. THanks.


33 posted on 10/20/2017 7:48:29 AM PDT by bigbob (People say believe half of what you see son and none of what you hear - M. Gaye)
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To: Kid Shelleen

“Oh, won’t you
Gimme three steps, gimme three steps, mister
Gimme three steps towards the door?
Gimme three steps, gimme three steps, mister
And you’ll never see me no more”

For, sure


34 posted on 10/20/2017 7:52:08 AM PDT by dennisw (Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it is enemy action.)
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To: Kid Shelleen

Starting my first year of college.


35 posted on 10/20/2017 7:52:29 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts ("Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment." - Will Rogers)
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To: Kid Shelleen
Now I have to surf YouTube and watch all the Southern Rock videos. /S

Don't neglect the Dixie Dregs in your travels!

Here's a rarity.

36 posted on 10/20/2017 7:53:54 AM PDT by Disambiguator (Keepin' it analog.)
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To: Rebelbase

I heard that they had an engine problem during flight and went to dump the fuel from that engine but dumped the wrong tank - not sure if that story is true though.


37 posted on 10/20/2017 7:54:10 AM PDT by utford
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To: cherry

I saw Stevie Ray Vaughn in concert 2 months before his helicopter crash. What a blues guitarist he was.


38 posted on 10/20/2017 7:55:08 AM PDT by tflabo
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To: Kid Shelleen

Jacksonville, Florida........Home of Lynyrd Skynyrd..........


39 posted on 10/20/2017 7:55:54 AM PDT by Red Badger (Road Rage lasts 5 minutes. Road Rash lasts 5 months!.....................)
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To: blam

No salsa?......................


40 posted on 10/20/2017 7:56:20 AM PDT by Red Badger (Road Rage lasts 5 minutes. Road Rash lasts 5 months!.....................)
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