On October 17, 1977, Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd released their fifth studio album titled “Street Survivors.” Only three days later on October 20, tragedy struck when the plane carrying the band crashed in a Mississippi countryside, leaving vocalists Ronnie Van Zant and Cassie Gaines, as well as guitarist Steve Gaines dead. Other fatalities included the band’s road manager Dean Kilpatrick, and the pilot, and co-pilot of the aircraft. Others sustained grave injuries but otherwise survived the accident (via Taste of Country).

Lynyrd Skynyrd was on tour when the accident happened, and in an interview with Orlando Sentinel, guitarist Gary Rossington recalled Allen Collins’ concerns about the flames he saw coming from the plane’s engine on their previous flight. Ronnie Van Zant, however, brushed it off and said: “Hey if the Lord wants you to die on this plane, when it’s your time, it’s your time. Let’s go, man. We’ve got a gig to do.” Drummer Artimus Pyle said that it seemed Ronnie was aware of his imminent death when they were about to go down. Everyone stayed calm when the plane was about to go down. Ronnie grabbed a pillow from the back of the plane, walked back to his seat, and smiled at Pyle. “Ronnie knew that he was going to die,” he said.

Ronnie Van Zant's burial

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