Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash Site - 37 Years Later - A Beautiful, Visual Drive Around The Crash Site
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- I realize that for most people who come across this video, it may be pretty boring. But for me; a musician who was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida (the home of Lynyrd Skynyrd), this was one place that I HAD to go see as a fan. I have visited all of the sites where Skynyrd got their start (the hell house location, clubs, homes, parks, other rehearsal locations, grave sites, etc), but I always wanted to make a journey to the actual crash site.
This is a video of me driving around the chicken farm near Gillsburg, Mississippi that was owned by Johnny Mote back on 20 October 1977; when the Convair CV-240 that was carrying Lynyrd Skynyrd and crew crashed and took the lives of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray; and injured numerous other band members and crew.
The farm is now called Hung Yen Farms, and the Asian family that owns it didn't really appreciate me stopping by. They don't particularly care about the amazing history of the farm that they now own and won't let anyone else in to see the crash site. I even offered him (Mr. Nguyen) the hundred bucks that I had, but he refused. If they would only allow fans to build a memorial on that spot, they would surely benefit greatly from it, but that's for another day.
This video shows me driving by the farm several times, and around the perimeter of the Mississippi, swampy forest; taking Easley Road, and P P Wilson Road. I had to find my own access points into the crash site and hoped like hell that I wouldn't get shot! After filming, I took a few photos of the surrounding area, and of some of the trees where fans had carved messages for Lynyrd Skynyrd years ago. There is surprisingly still some small elements of debris left over from the crash (which I collected some pieces) and also took some tree bark with me.
It was so sad to see that open field just beyond the trees that they crashed in to. If they could have kept enough altitude for another 200 yards or so, then history would have been changed.
I wanted to take some film of the actual crash site as well. My camera battery was still at 75% when I got there. It was a beautiful, calm, sunny day (as you can see), and once at the site -- an eerie breeze started blowing and my camera battery died instantly. I took out my back-up battery, and it was drained too! As silly as it may sound to some, the spirit of Lynyrd Skynyrd (Ronnie, Steve, Cassie, Dean) can still be felt at that spot. It was just such an amazing experience to be there.
I hope with this video, you can feel like you have been there too. I hope to go back soon and convince the farm owners to allow me to try and film again. Either way, I hope you enjoy this footage of beautiful Gillsburg / Magnolia Mississippi and enjoy the great songs "Brickyard Road" by Johnny Van Zant, and "Tuesday's Gone".
Long live Lynyrd Skynyrd, and fly high Freebirds!!
If you enjoy the content that I post on this channel, please feel free to buy me a beer by sending a couple quarters or a dollar via PayPal at rockinthe904jax@gmail.com - เพลง
No matter how these musicians lived and died they will always live on in somebody's hearts dreams memories.
I've watched this video many, many times. This is a great tribute to an awesome band. I miss the lives we lost. Thanks for taking us with you.
Growing up in Florida in the 60s and 70s this was my music. It was tough loosing these guys. Them dam airplanes take all the great ones.
@rockinthe904 I enjoyed the journey with you so much and watched it several times. I can't Thank You enough for taking the time and effort ,.you put into this small production,.which i thought was very well done.
I too, like yourself,. would love to see it as well..maybe someday my wish will come true. That part of the country is So beautiful and would bring back memories of visiting it years ago as a teenager with my family.
I Love The pieces you choose to accompany the film. He will always be missed but never forgotten.
Once again a huge Thanks for sharing hun!
I work this county and they now have a memorial near the crash site. The site itself is still closed and I have not been able to get to it yet. I have placed two geocaches near the crash site and you see both hiding spots in this video. Great video and song selection.
Very nice film.great song to bad the plane went done.
Thanks
What's the difference between a 240, 340, 440.................. and a 300? VIP cabin space maybe in the 300? All used 2800's slight changes in hydraulic banks and stiffened clutch collars on the MLG and exhaust... 300, never heard of it... the others well yeah well versed.
Lynyrd Skynyrd was my first experience of live music from a famous band. They were playing the tiny Strand Theater in Jonesboro, AR....I was just a small kid and my Dad, Mom and I parked outside in the parking lot and listened to them play for a long time. It is a fond memory...and I didn't know at the time that they would become just about the most important musical influence of my teen and young adult years. Still love them. And still feel the heartbreak I experienced when I heard on the news that the plane crashed and Ronnie was gone. It was so devestating. My friends all got together and all cried like it was our best friend that died. RIP and I hope to see them all in Heaven some fine day. I just want to be free too...freedom to me is eternity in Heaven with my Jesus, family, and all other Christians that are my real family. Don't bother to troll this comment. It's only my own thoughts and not directed to anyone else that has different beliefs.
That's beautiful. Thank you for that.
I hope all is well with you, sir- music has a way of bringing people together and helping one another thru inevitable loss-
GEN X, 1965, I'm from Little Rock, Arkansas and same great LS story!
Amen 🙏
R.I.P., Ronnie, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN,, Cousin Figel
WHO ??
The location is very close to the hunting property we purchased in 1998 on PP Wilson road. Back in 2002 when Travis Twitt performed at the crash site, we sat in our rockers on our front porch and listened to the music - depending on how the wind blew! This is still how this area looks today! Great video!
Boring? not a chance Brother! Thank you for this journey! Losing Skynyrd saddened my generation far more than Buddy Holly's era! For years I have wanted to travel to do exactly what you have done. I may some day get there or at least I hope before it is my time to leave this world. There are a few things on my Bucket list. this is one, placing a flower on the grave of Ronnie just to say thank you for the memories, the music and most but not least to honor the memory of the man who from what I have seen in the many videos and interviews I have watch was one hell of a human being. RIP forever Brothers!!
it may have saddened you more, but you can't lump everyone into that opinion i'll take buddy over LS every time.
Do you remember Buddy Holly's death?
Man - I don't know how you planned it? But, not one car on your journey. Well, I made it to 8:10 & no car in sight... A very nice tribute for those musicians who've touched our lives in soo many ways! Too many other musicians have passed already so far this 2016 year and the year just began. Well, Thanks for this; Skynyrd met with such an untimely passing that my heart still sings out for them! ~ peace
+Nola West I saw no other vehicles on the road the entire time that I was driving in that area. I never thought about how odd that was until you mentioned it. This was filmed on a Friday; mid-day, so it is even more unusual. I'm planning another trip very soon, so we'll see how that goes. :)
+rockinthe904 -- Ohhh, that's so nice you're gonna make another trip! I'll be thinking of you, & I hope to find it uploaded shortly after. I'll be looking out for it.... but if you can I'd love to be informed when it's up & running!
BTW - I watched the whole video through & couldn't hold back the tears. But, your tribute made my heart feel what it must have been like back when this horrific tragedy happened! I was just a little girl & don't remember anything about it until I was in my teens, BUT THE ONE THING I DO REMEMBER IS HOW THEIR MUSIC MOVED ME IN A WAY NO OTHER BAND/GROUP DID!!!!!
So this gave me the chance to I guess you could call it "mourn" the void I have felt of their passing...
So I Need To ""Thank You"" Sooo Very Much!
~ Peace & have a SAFE & GREAT TRIP!
what were the asians doing with that farm? Its annoying a bit lol
+rockinthe904 is it hard to find their crash site I saw once that someone put up a memorial at the site & I've heard they've had some tribute concerts out there with some of Ronnie's family performing
wavygr what how are we talking about this?I think y'all got off subject
I think it's absolutely beautiful-
In 1986 a girl i loved more than I even knew at the time passed away as a result of a horrible car accident- this is a song i still play and sing for her on my guitar......
I was in 8th grade when the crash happened. My grandmother, who lived in Summit, was in the ICU at SMRMC during the time the crash victims arrived. My mom and aunt spent many hours in the ICU waiting room as did some of their family members. My mom's family is from Summit, but we lived in Baton Rouge. Some of bands luggage was sent ahead to the Hilton hotel in Baton Rouge. My aunt heard some of their family questioning how they could get their belongings. My aunt told them we lived in BR and that my mom would be driving up to sit with my grandmother. She told them she was sure my mom wouldn't mind picking it up for them. I'll never forget mom checking us out of school, picking up their belongings at the Hilton and driving to the hospital. Very surreal.
:(
👍🏼😎👍🏼 wow, that was nice of you👌🏼🇺🇸👌🏼
Load of crap, write a book, my god
Sean Oxborough.....GFYS....DUMBA**
Cool
I absolutely love this video what a great tribute to the best band ever!!!!! Living in the 70's was the best I'll never forget the memories of listening to them and having fun . Those days were the best wish I could go back
me too.
It's a damn shame that the family who owns the farm doesn't realize what the significance of the location actually is. I would definitely pay more than 100 bucks to go and pay my respects if I had the opportunity. Hopefully someday there can be a small memorial built on the exact crash site. Love this vid.
Youra douce lookin for money just like the rest of the assholes on this planet that are fuckin idiots
well yea but when its on private property its private property.
If you actually believe it's a shame, buy the property. If you think so many others feel the same, start a gofund me. Buy the land. open a memorial. There, see how easy that is? The new owners have no obligation to care. If you do, buy it and do your thing.
@@jimbrant6441 he wasn't looking for money. He was willing to SPEND money to visit the site. That makes you the douche.
The locals don't want the tourists to visit, I spent 4 hours and asked numerous locals for directions, I could not find the location was sent on a wild goose chase, I don't think there actually is a location or memorial and that is a shame.
Tuesday's gone with the wind. They're gone, but not forgotten.
Buddy Holly, JP Richardson and Ritchie Valens also died in a convair. I hope that their souls are resting peace. We will never know what'son the other side until we cross. God Bless their souls.
No, it was a Beechcraft Bonanza. A Light Plane. Five Seater. 'Rising American rock stars Charles "Buddy" Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson are killed when their chartered Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashes in Iowa a few minutes after takeoff from Mason City on a flight headed for Moorhead, Minnesota.'
www.jetgala.com/the-little-airplane-that-could/
let's not to forget that the band members killed on that flight was Dean Kilpatrick, Steve & Cassie Gains and Ronnie Van Zant.
R.i.P Ronnie Van Zant
Steve Gaines
Cassie Gaines
😢😢
Incredible. This is all I would need to understand what a tragic loss this was to fans who had lived through the rise of this band. Almost 40 years gone and yet still missed, still remembered and still so important.
joleree1 never forgotten
I was there during their rise. I met Ronnie, he was my friend. I continue to think of him, maybe even everyday. His presence in my life made a huge impact on me in ways I find difficult to describe. Don't get me wrong, he was not a perfect person, but what his presence instilled in me was almost other worldly or angelic. It was just supposed to be as it was and how it happened. And somehow he knew that before it even happened and seemed to be at peace with it. I miss him so much!
@@joleneloveland2942 Thank you very much for sharing that.
I wonder if anyone even goes to the plane crash site to memorialize or not it seems so long ago 41 years nobody talks about it and Cassie is never talked about or Steve so sad its like their forgotten but I will not I am keeping this thank you.
I remember the night I heard the news..Saw local reporter Tom Wills reporting from the crash site the next day.Hes still at WJXT in Jacksonville..May Ronnnie, Steve, Cassie, Allen, Billy, Dean, Bob And Leon have a peaceful rest.
Thanks for posting this. Huge Skynyrd fan.Sooo many good tunes. We always have them playing next to campfire at the NASCAR races. Peace bud.
HomeownerRepair lol👍🏼😎👍🏼 that’s EVERYONE’s view of us is why that’s funny...keep blasting them.
Thanks so much for this video..Makes me feel like I am home...so beautiful and peaceful...I will always love Lynyrd Skynyrd!
I think you did a great job with this & my hats off to ya. I cant thank ya enough for being so nice as to share this with all of us L.S. fans. I'm sure Ronnie & those who we loss over the years are looking down & saying "GREAT JOB"!!! I remember that day well. It was October 20th 1977 & we were playing baseball behind the house & its dark or awful close to it. I think it was right around 7 or about a quarter till I wanna say, when my dad opened up the door & told us the news. He was in the basement working on a chainsaw with the radio on, when he heard the news. It was a sad day/night to say the least. IMO L.S. is the best band ever. I saw em in concert more times than I can count. I also saw Queen, Kiss, AC/DC, Fleetwood Mac, ELO, 38. Special, GNR, but to see Skynyrd was something special. And Ronnie? In one word, GENIUS!!! Now, I don't believe in curse's, but if such a thing DID exist, this band would without question fit that word. I mean its like every time you turned around, they were losing another member. Now, all that remains, are Gary, Ed, & Artimus. Also Larry Junstrom. But to see all this tragedy is just so sad. But us TRUE DIE HARD FANS will never call another band our favorites cos we know there's only one that'll ever fill that void, & that's Lynyrd Skynyrd!!! After Billy died, I went & bought my own piano & am self teaching myself to play. But the best legacy Skynyrd left to us fans, is all the ABSOLUTE GREAT MUSIC! Now THAT'S something, you can never put a price on. Like I said from the start of this. You did a great job bringing us fans a piece of Rock N Roll History right at our fingertips with this video. I had no idea that Mr. Mote didn't own this land no more. So I also learned something new from this video. So again, I thank ya so much for sharing this. GREAT JOB!!!
Great collection of legendary bands you experienced live! You might be interested to know that AC/DC hit it off with Lynyrd Skynyrd in August '77 when they met them on their first tour of America in Jacksonville and Bon, Malcolm, Angus and Cliff all went off with them for a couple of days drinking, smoking and jamming at their band complex in the hills according to the book 'Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be' by Mick Wall :)
John Arundell Thanks for the great information, I didn't know that. I'll have to check that book out sometime. I never got to see Bon Scott sing, but I did get to see Brian on a few tours in the 90's. Think one of em was on that Razor's Edge Tour. I also got to see back in the day Linda Ronstadt & in my eyes the ORIGINAL & ULTIMATE NUMBER 1 FEMALE ROCKER IN LEATHER Suzi Quarto. While Joan Jett is good, she without question of a doubt, tried to rip off Suzi's "gimmick" of the leather. Suzi to this day is STILL A STUNNER. She's a beautiful woman. And the catalog of songs she's amassed is off the charts! I just added to my cd collection a 4 cd set of hers called The Girl From Detroit City. It also comes with a booklet full of color photos & some black N white ones too. My all time favorite song by her is Cats Size cos I love my critters & I have a cat. Next to that song, would be Stumbling In, followed by a great classic rocker Devil Gate Drive. She also does some country too. She is a 100% Bona Fide BABE with a capital "B" She can do it all. My all time favorite female rocker will ALWAYS be Suzi, while in country music my all time favorite female singer is a 3 way tie between Wynonna Judd, Linda Ronstadt, & Brenda Lee. Whom I also saw all three before. Another great band who has a great smooth flow to their sound is the Alan Parsons Project. Just some absolute great bands & singers on this list. Sure beats the crap we're exposed to today. WTF Happened? lol But of course, my all time favorite band will ALWAYS be Skynyrd. Ronnie was a GENIUS & I will ALWAYS have all the respect in the world for his musical talent. Just to bad he left us at 29 while an old saw bones like me still keeps ticking. Go figure..
defiantone Haha you're welcome to be honest I'm an AC/DC freak (Bon Scott era only) in Melbourne, Australia who didn't really know anything about Lynyrd Skynyrd until I read about them in the book and looked into them a bit so today I bought Freebird: The Movie and a 5 CD set then I came to watch this video which has such a huge amount of love for the band and their music so I wanted to write something. It seems that both original '70s groups mean as much to their home fans in a way :)
John Arundell Yea. Both are great bands & its just awful what happened to Malcom Young in his having to leave the band N all. Seems like the two bands are "cursed". In AC/DC's case, first with Bon Scott passing away & then Malcom Young having to leave the band due to health problems & Phil Rudd due to his legal problems. And of course in Skynyrd's case, all the deaths they endured over the years. I mean the whole things just awful in both bands case's. But man Oh man what a great legacy of GREAT MUSIC they gave to us fans. And IMO that's ONE THING you cant put a price on. Funny you mentioned getting Freebird the movie. If its the same one I have, it should have their Tribute Tour included in the set.
defiantone Yeah it is but I haven't watched that yet just getting into the older original albums for a while then will check that out later when I've got a better appreciation :)
Ronnie and a lot of his bandmates might be dead but their music lives on forever.
At least they died on southern soil. May God rest their souls
Rebel Provost SALUTE [>
Rebel Provost. HOW CAN THEY WHEN THEY KEEP TOURING 🖓
@@jerryjordan8551 the sign at the end of your post tells you on the wrong sight ?
Hell yeah!! Think if they would of crashed in Maryland or Germany. The emergency workers were good/TRUE people. For me that’s WHY so many survived the crash. No one died that was alive when the emergency workers showed up...no one! That’s taking pride in your work!!
@@jerryjordan8551 You dumbass, Ronnies brother took over and they kept the name. As far as any fan is concerned, Leonard Skynyrd perished in that crash.
Thanks for the video! As I just watched it, I'm sitting at our old dairy farm, a few miles away from the crash. Your video made a big circle around our farm. :-) I was senior in high school when it happened and we all drove out to the site the next day. Very serene, quiet, calm area. All of us locals paid our respects in silence as we passed through. It was such a sad event. And yes, you can see in the video just how close the plane was to clearing the trees. Every time I drive by there I think how close they were to making it.
If they would only have had half way decent professional pilots and a half way decent plane to fly in, they may have made it to that open field and stood a good chance of surviving that senseless crash. Damn...this still bothers the hell out of me to this very day )" Those pilots had total disregard for human life...even their own..by doing what they were known to be doing before the crash. RIP Ronnie, Steve, Cassie and Dean, "Fly High Freebirds"
The plane had nothing to do with the crash. It was poor fuel management on the part of the pilots.
@@play4u67 What were the pilots "known to be doing before the crash?"
@@Littlebigbot As I understand it the engines on that plane had thrown fire out the back on more than one occasion.
they were professional more people could have been killed
Ronnie I know your looking down on your daughter. She's got your voice.
The whole incident was / is still sad, but I believe that there may have been a miscalculation of weight / fuel, by the looks of things, they packed a lot of shit on that bird, it may have been too heavy, and they therefore used more fuel then normal, causing them to fall short at the end of their trip. Just a mere thought, there was no harm intended, by anyone, but it happened, it may have been possibly prevented. Sorry people, I miss them as well.
My dad was in the crash, part of the road crew. I've always wanted to visit the crash site. Thank you for sharing!
KellI Brace hi... who. Was your Dad in the plane crash ? Did he survive the crash ?
Watching this 10/20/19 this band means so much more to me now than forty years ago,
Luckily I’ve had the chance to grow & mature
with this fabulous music as the soundtrack in my soul. So fly high free bird & fly high all my fellow Skynyrd fans. This music will live in the hearts of folks after we’re all gone.
I saw them about 6 months before they crashed, in the Bronco Stadium in Denver, 1977. I just saw Johnny and Lynyrd Skynyrd here in Idaho last weekend, so I'm reliving it all. Man, it sucks. I get so sad. Life is just so unfair sometimes.
Thanks for taking the risk to record your journey to this sacred site. I lived near there for a few years and was there, via CB radio, the night the plane went down. I still recall the drama and sadness felt by the Skynyrd community / fans that lived in the area at the time.
Thank you for sharing this🕊🙏....such a loss!!
I think I would have just told the China man to step aside - as I was coming to visit an endeared U.S.A historical site.
Yea, China man actually made it clear that he had weapons, as I did as well. That probably wouldn't have turned out very well and would have probably added an interesting side note to this story. :)
crazycatlady68 I'll take a typical American attitude any day over a cold, emotionless I-could-give-two-fucks-about-American-culture Chinese attitude.
Really? Trespass on the mans land cuz you think you have a right? Ok, the land owner is not a Skynyrd fan, sucks to be him but he still owns the land and has a right to tell you you're not welcome on it. It sucks that he's not sympathetic to the significance of the site but he still owns it.
Tony Penner Just so you know, the "Asian" family is not associated to China. Hung Yen farm is owned by a Vietnamese family. Hence the surname "Nguyen" and the farm name "Hung Yen", which is a province in VIETNAM.
Such a typical Americunt statement filled with ignorance and wanna-be patriotism.
+rockinthe904 ...was the video of them on the plane and it taking off shot on the plane that they crashed in? Was that the last video of Ronnie before he died??
One story i read about the crash was that nothing was tied down(secured)ie.equiptment,personal items.And when they crashed these items became flying lethal projectiles crashing into everyone in its' path.RIP.
I live on this peace of history I live on pp Wilson rd.
Not boring at all for a true fan, I enjoyed every second of it. Just bought a tix to see the band in April 2020. Cannot wait! My youth started with Skynyrd and theyve been here with me my whole life. My all time best musical memories......
Update: I am back at the site right now!
rockinthe904 tomorrow will make 40 yrs since the tragic crash...i need to go back
40th Anniversary video. :( th-cam.com/video/iaa09QMo1gQ/w-d-xo.html
I had just seen them the summer before in Memphis with ZZ Top , Blue Oyster Cult , and the Outlaws. 07-04-76
I love drives in beautiful scenery, '& I love me some Lynyrd Skynrd music even more.! So this video is perfect, very beautiful.! '& very very calming :)
I live near the crash sight so I am living on a piece of history. I like lynard skinard music alot
I was not even 2 when the plane went down. Grew up listening to all kinds of classic rock. Southern classic rock was the best. Lynard Skynards music is the type that’s passed down from generation to generation. You played some of my favorites in this video! Ty!
CHINESE own most of the country ...why not the the land this band died on. Not even American owned...crazy.
Thank you so much for posting this. I remember that terrible day... we mourned Ronnie and the rest of the band members. I attended the funeral at Orange park Memorial and for a couple years would go to sit at their grave sites just toking on a joint, celebrating their music and their lives. Charlie Daniels had a lovely poem, as he loves to do, and as he and Ronnie were absolutely great, close friends, that he carved beautifully on a stone (I believe made of marble, but was stoned most of the time) and it was a beautiful poem, in which Charlie ends it "Fly on proud bird, you're free at last"!! I still have my pictures of them as well as pictures of where they first began practicing.. Leon and Billy used to come to the restaurant I worked at for a time in Jacksonville, it was when it was on blanding "Shogun" and it was always great seeing them, as their fans were in abundance. I also have pics of where they first began practicing before making internationally big (pictures of where they took the album cover pics of "nuthin fancy" So I want to thank you for posting this. it brought back some very happy memories, but also sad ones.
Jazn Del I
if you visit Asheville, NC you might see Artmus Pyle around town he lives there gives drum lessons at his band instrument business
Mississippi Kid by Lynyrd Skynyrd
If I'm ever in Asheville I sure wood like to run into him. Maybe we can compare notes.🥁🥁🥁🥁
Thanks for posting this. Outstanding job. I downloaded Brickyard Road from ITunes - a perfect song for your video. I never saw the original band but I loved their music and I remember the day the plane went down. I see the current band every year. The current band is as close as we will get to the past, and your video is as close as most of us will get to where the Freebird died. Thank you!
Gone...but Not Forgotten.
de verdad.you guys. i'm still crying. ..i'm a número. uno..lynyrd skynyrd fan.when I first meet'em ..in1975. un. Irvine meadows Ca.anfitethre.. I was only 16. know I'm but I'm happy.
Thanks for this post. I've been wanting to pay my respects at this site for over 35 years, and had the opportunity to do so recently. you're right, it's a beautiful area. Your film, supported by some kind locals who knew Johnny mote, helped me confirm the location. It's very clear that the site is on private property, including both (as far as I could see) possible access routes. One can only hope that proper access and a permanent memorial will be provided at some point - it's overgrown, and would take some heart and soul to prevent it from deteriorating further. One can only imagine what it must have been like there that night, and as you point out heartbreaking that the site was so close to open ground. Fly on, freebird.....
Deteriorating?
I’m only 25 and listen to Lynyrd Skynyrds simple man and free bird just about everyday
Great video. Good choice of songs. Touching in a mournful sort of way. In everyone's life there is a value to celebrate, but the musical calling makes Ronnie and the others a little more special.
At least they live on in each of us lucky enough to have Skynyrd as the soundtrack of our lives.
Free Bird , Simple Man, Tuesday's Gone. The songs can't help but tug on my Heartstrings.
What a beautiful tribute, especially the excellent choice of including Johnny Van Zant's song.
Here I sit, a grownass man, tears welling up in my eyes.
Thank you for this.
welling up? mine are dripping ! lol Not ashamed to say so! :)
My overseas buddy Dave Prejean from Abbeville, La. had tickets to see them in Batan Rouge but they never made it. How sad!
I just cried like a baby and can't stop lol
Such a sad place. I also noticed there wasn't a car to be found either. God only knows how much I miss those guys....
Nothing but big bad tornadoes in that part of Ole Miss. Once in a while you can see the evidence.
Matter of fact we are getting up a petition to boycott him, that farm will close soon!!!
Any luck with that?
Matthew Morrison lmao. Yeah take someone land that a plane crashed on...very “American”of you. That will NEVER happen buddy.
a plane crashes on private property and you hold it against the owner because he doesn't share your views? what kinda shit is that.
Does anyone know where the wreckage of the plane is? Just curious...visiting the site is definitely on my bucketlist...
At (12:15) stop the video and right side near the center. you can see something looking human.
+Timothy Holmes Are you trying to say the site is haunted?
RIGHT !!
What I find interesting is that 39 years later that spot in the forest has not regrown. It's still all dead. There was no fire so in all these years it has stayed the same.
im 13 and i just started collecting records. My first one was Lynyrd Skynyrd "Street Survivors" With the flame background. It took me a while to find it, but i had my heart set on it since i was 6. And it makes me cry just to hear a song of theres, even since i wasn't around at that time. The remaining crew was just a Va Beach and it sucks that i couldn't see them, it was too much for my family to afford.
+Zachm2522 I have been a fan of the band since 1973, and was fortunate enough to have had a chance to see the original band play once. Probably seen the reincarnated band 6 or 7 times, at least. I can strongly recommend a dvd which is just fantastic if you are a Skynyrd fan. It has 2 movies on the disc. "Lynyrd Skynyrd - Freebird The Movie" and "Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour". It is on the Artisan Home Entertainment label. The UPC number code is 7 07729-12057 5. One thing about this disc: YOU HAVE TO watch the "Tribute Tour" movie first, then watch "Freebird" 2nd! Trust me on this. Take care.
Some times people just do not understand how important some thing or some place is to others. It sucks that this family and land owner do not understand why that spot is so special to so many people. Some people just do not understand this emotions some people place on certain places or things. Some day there will be a memorial there. Thank you for sharing this video with us.
+ahnbra Perhaps one day there will be a memorial placed there. In a way, I can understand the landowner not wanting people waltzing all over his property. Probably 99 out of 100 would be respectful, but then than 1 would make up for all of the rest. Do you remember when somebody tried breaking into the tombs of Ronnie Van Zant & Steve Gaines in Jacksonville? The families had to re-locate the bodies to an undisclosed location to protect them from being desecrated by some wacked-out individuals.
I respect the fact they just want privacy. I wouldn't want strangers on my property all the time, neither.
I get it. LS was my favorite band through HS and I just couldn't believe it when that plane crashed. But these land owners are not at all obligated to understand what the site may mean to some people. It's their property and I guarantee they are chasing off people all the time, hunting on their land with no permission. Who knows, maybe they did try to allow people in but then got over run and their privacy destroyed. There's always ONE idiot who ruins things and there have probably been many. Make them an offer for the property. Best of luck to you!
@@Urbicide They actually pulled Ronnie's casket out of the vault. How much more ghastly can it get?
A group of Skynyrd fans should just bum rush the property, take out the Vietcong family, and open the land back up to people who care about the historical significance of the place. The fact that the family won't let anyone on the site is reason enough to take it back. Or go to the state government and start a petition to get the land taken away from them and turned into a state park/memorial site for us fans of the best U.S. Rock band of the 1970s
I think they should leave the land as it is,,untouched by rules, regulating forrest,park rangers and having to pay money just to pay your respects.
I'd much rather make a trip here ( as this vidio shows ) than your suggestions.
Looks peaceful in spite of what happened here.
thanks for the ride i wish i was with you but i feel like i was there
I think it is amazing how many fans are still out there, However, I also believe that maybe it is time to let the others along with Ronnie fly, keep the memories in our hearts, but to go to the crash site, graves, picking up pieces of debris, I believe is just too much. At some point we need to let them really be free, not idolized. I believe it is time to let them rest in Peace.
+Kandi G. -
*I agree one million percent.
*Lynyrd Skynyrd was by far my favorite American band, until the crash cut them short. When they crashed, they were the best American band, period; Aerosmith was coming apart and the Eagles were just coming into their best time. Everyone knew they were just beginning to find themselves again; there's only one song using Steve Gaines' considerable vocal talents in tandem with Ronnie; it's cruel to consider the possibilities.
* I was in Europe(in the US Army) when the word came, and we were stunned, and mostly we took the rest of the day off. Not angry or rebellious, but hurt, gutted, numb. Also, Elvis had died a couple of months before - and we felt we wuz robbed of him, as well.
*Still, I don't understand the attraction for visiting an airplane crash site. The crash was a shameful affair. One of the plane's engines was badly tuned and wasting lots of fuel. The small airline put off maintenance on the engines, among other things. This is annoying if somebody is running a limo service, but airplanes can cause problems if skipped maintenance causes a failure, like dead passengers. There may or may not have been drugs involved - who knows, and who cares, now?
*After 35 years it doesn't matter. Nothing will bring back Ronnie, Steve, or Cassie. It is best to just let go - God has a plan, and we don't get to be in on it. Best of all is to play the music they made, along with Duane Allman, and others we miss.
*Those of us that remember those times are mostly more comfortable with that era's music, anyway - there was a power and tone that just felt better, somehow. Today's music seems forced; it is certainly promoted too forcefully for my liking. Meanwhile there are older little-known gems and similar music of that time, and similar-sounding new music - there's no need to ever be without good music that you like.
*Remember the Good; Don't dwell on the Bad. As Duane Allman once said, "You have a choice, you can have a good time, or have a shitty time - and I can tell you, I've had plenty of shitty times. If I have a choice, I'm gonna have a good time."
That was exactly what Ronnie's wife Judy Van Zant Jenness said in 2000. She said it was time to move on from focusing on the crash and deaths of Ronnie and the others. I agree. There is nothing special about a piece of land where the crash happened. I would be more interested in his childhood home and places where the band hung out.
shit 200 yards and the might have landed better, shit, will alway hurt. Can you post the hell house location video. thx
Looking at a map, looked like fields all around. The Pilot should have landed before getting that far. Even McComb's wasn't that far.
THANK YOU " Simple Man" was Recited my Step sons Funeral he was 19yrs old Baby on the Way Lynyrd Skynyd were His People Godspeed
That japanise man was rude!!! That was wrong of him to dishonor Ronnie van zant like that
they should have not played under the old name Ronnie died steve cassie skynard died with Ronnie
They didn't want to. It was the fans at the anniversary. The existing members decided to please the fans. I'm glad they did. It will give a new generation the same music we had as kids. I didn't agree at first either, but after seeing them in concert, I changed my mind. Lynyrd Skynyrd will live on fro a long time. I hope you can enjoy their music just as I do.
I still listen to the original members also, thanks to facebook.
fly high freebird
Thank you so much for this video. I was 26 yrs. old at the time of their deaths, & I was crazy about their music. I am still sad to this day. "We" would never grow old together, & I would not, have not, had their special sound & lyrics, & that southern slow honey drawl I grew up with to carry me through good times & bad no matter where I was.
I know I would have trapsed right on in to those woods, & probably run like hell to get back out, but it would have been worth it.
I am glad you found the place, & got a good shot of that spontaneous memorial tree. We can at least be thankful that the people who own the farm nearby have not taken it upon themselves to destroy that tree-- or anybody else for that matter.
I believe absolutely that all of the people on board have a lot of their psyche imprint on the site, & the diseased ones can & do find their way back to it along their own energy "beacons" coming out of there. And I do believe some of their spirits were drawing energy from your batteries, trying to make some sort of contact, & that whoever he/she/they were knew you were there for them. The emotional plane crosses all boundaries. I would like to think they appreciated & enjoyed your presence there.
Hope you do another trek to the spot. Just bring a radio tuned to between stations but with the volume off or way down, & let whoever draw energy from it so you can get some pictures. Who knows, ya might just pick up as much of an ethereal form one of them can muster up to let you know they know you are there. Thanks again.
Last November we were able to go and pay our respects and driving down the road I swear I could hear people from the plane crash it was very eerie and then when we got there a dog came right up to me like so sweet like a service dog touched my heart ❤️
That video and that music just fits so greatly....... thank you.... LS will live on forever!
20 years I left Ga on a trip to Jacksonville to be apart of a history I feel so connected to. 20 years later, watching this, I still feel that sadness in my heart. Never completely could explain it, and still can't. I understand why you did this brother and I'm glad you did. I wish those selfish bastards would have let you through. The world is truly changing I guess. Glad they didn't shoot!
Thanks for the post. Doubtful I'll ever get to Gillsburg, so appreciate "siterep" and your effort to go. As you say, just 200 yards, it'd be a different landing. Maybe Ronnie, Steve, Cassie Dean and the two pilots fazed your batteries. Hardest thing is to watch from 13:03 when you see them in that Convair and it replays their destiny...
This is the 1st time to see this video. Bored? Damn! NO. I could be blind and would play it again and again. I live in Mississippi. I was 60 or so miles from the sight when it happened. 2 friends were coming back from an oil rig right after. Brought me a little trap door from the plane. I do believe I'm going out there this Oct. And no one NO ONE is going to tell me I can't. I don't like chicken that much anyway. Thank you for caring, going and posting. FREE AT LAST!!! We ara gonna' c them again! (ara is how you say r down heah.)
If you went to the area of the site, I hope you respected the landowner enough not to go onto his land uninvited. He CAN tell you not to.
It is not boring, it is just I do not know what the hell I am looking at; or where the hell I am at, in the video. I watched the documentaries and testimonials of crash survivors.
rip the greatest band ever
You better believe that spirits are real and are around us constantly good n evil.
that spot is tainted with evil and you witnessed that.
All our life is is energy....we die we go right back into energy...
Super vid, thanks for shooting, taking the rick of being trapped in there by the Yen ones. I found the Yen chicken houses on Google-earth at (31 04 37.88 N) ; (90 35 50.86 W) and as per your views from the your moving car window, can't place the exact area on PP Wilson Rd looking toward the Yen house area. Thanks again, good documentary stuff, love these guys. .
Ronnie and the rest will live on forever that's for damn sure and like another commenter replied at least they died on Southern soil. I actually live in Magnolia not far from the site visited a few times
Dee Devlin • We Southerners respect things like that and agree. If they had to go, good knowing they were at “home.”
Theres a guy named craig who ocassionalkly sells skynyrd swag on e bay, hes one of the survivors. he can tell you the whole story. And yes the plane was short on fuel, the pilots thought they could make it .... they obviously didnt. Thank you for the tribute, as a former LS crew guy it means a lot to see this...God Bless Ronnie and the rest of the family and crew....
peace
I would like to know where it is so me and my wife can plan a trip there soon If u would let me know I would be very great full
brother this is far from boring! Skynyrd was and is my group!
First Off , Let me say a Big THANK YOU !! For Sharing Your Trip With Us All , I could Feel the chills slowly creeping up and through my body , As we went around the site , would Love to be able to go and see it for myself some day .. And no it don't sound silly or crazy that your batteries drained and went dead ,They are still there !! As for the Chicken Farmers , well SHAME ON THEM for being rude , They just don't UNDERSTAND , But A Memorial SHOULD BE & NEEDS to BE Erected in Honor and Memory Of That FATAL DAY .... Again THANK YOU for Sharing !!!!!!!
The crash happened 40 years ago,, These people own the property. You are right,they DON'T understand. They are not from this country and do not care about rock and roll so this crash has ZERO meaning to them. I would get sick of people constantly coming onto my property too. If there is a memorial, it can be erected CLOSE to the crash site but not on private property. Not sure why people believe that just because they are FANS, they have the right to intrude on someones life. Time to move on.
Would like to make that Journey myself I'm a big Skynard fan and SRV it's just a shame that they left us so so soon. Juat imagine what more they could have done. But we are always going to have there music that will never go away.
The crash site is not too far from our homestead and just a few minutes from my brothers property
It is hard to fathem that only Gary Rossington is the only founding member that is left.
As a fellow fan of the band, I must admit watching the video gave me goosebumps and brought a tear to my eye. My first concert ever was Lynyrd Skynyrd and ARS at Miami Jai Alai Fronton 5/2/1976, and then a year later at the Hollywood Sportatorium for the opening of the Street Survivors Tour, 10/15/1977. I have seen them numerous times throughout my life, but those first 2 times hold a special place in my heart. My first ever LP was Pronounced and I think I own everything they have ever released. I've been a fan for over 40 years and I want to thank you for sharing your trip.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Johnny.. It would have been my first concert - we had tickets... they never made it up the coast. Broke my heart. You were very lucky and honored to have had that experience you did. I finally saw the band right before Billy Powell passed away - Brought my daughter who was 10 at that time - her first concert. Billy looked right at her and smiled - she was up on her Dad's shoulders. I could actually feel Ronnie right on the stage standing beside Johnny - It was amazing! Then right after "Freebird" ended, Johnny said to us all that Ronnie was standing right there next to him that he could feel it...
They have always been 1 of my all time favorite bands and glad you got to see them with your daughter, fly on Freebird, you're free at last.
*Johnny C* - You were probably one of the very last people to get to see them before that horrible fateful day ): 10-15-1977?? Omg, that was just 5 days before the crash..Wow, I bet those first 2 concerts (and especially the last one there) were incredibly special for you for sure!! Take Care friend.
*Trish*
Well me and about 15,000 other lucky people. The Street Survivor's Tour started in Hollywood, Fl. at The Sportatorium, so yes it was the first show of the tour. They have been and always will be one of my favorite bands of all time. I still go see them every chance I get.
Johnny C
That's awesome (: I wanted to go see them, but I was living out west at the time (I'm from Florida originally) I was almost 11 yrs old when the crash happened and remember it all to well ): But if things had turned out differently, my brother told me he would have taken me to see them, I'm a huge fan of theirs also...always have been, always will be (: Take care (:
I saw them on Oct 15, 1977 at the Hollywood Sportatorium in Hollywood Fla. That show was insane!!! They opened up with Whats Your Name. I still have the ticket stub. Just a few days after I saw them, the plane went down.
You were very lucky to get that opportunity to see them just days before hand. Hold on tight to that ticket stub, it's worth more than money to you I'm sure (: Take Care
*Trish*
The farm owner could make lots of money off this if he wanted to-charge admission to get a tour of the crash site. I'd pay $50 maybe even $100 to get to be there and photograph it.
The name of the road at the dead end at 10:42 of the video is PP WILSON in case anyone WONTS to know, I've went to see myself
yes historical but sad
always wondered never heard a word about this but to the survivors. Was there any insurance monies that covered there incomes. have been a fan since day one I'm there age kinda hits home only thing I never read anything about was insurance. always read plane company had financial problems. any one else read anything on the insurance thing please post thanks. RIP
I absolutely loved this~ I was 9 when I began listening to this music, I knew the lyric's and the music carried me all of my life I was so broken hearted when the plan crashed... like I lost family! RVZ, Cassie, Steve, I cried at 9 yr. old for these people. Growing up the albums became cassettes, then CD's and by 39 I left all of the music alone since it sort of reminded me of the teenage years, the early college years, etc. ( you get the picture). Just a couple wks. ago I heard the New Band doing a special on AXS~ Dish, God help me! I got angry! RVZ Is the genius behind the band! Come on! Well, I have re entered my love affair, yes.... errr, RVZ and Allen, Steve, the Honkettes just burning the original stuff up. Now though, we can get the interview's the massive information... God, RVZ was a great man.. I mean he had to be~ the lyrics is just to close to real life,, the kind of life America is built on. The interviews of the band reflects genuine, good people~ down to earth. Thank you for posting this! I plan to make that drive and see this place... RIP!!!!
You need to get the son of the China man to be a fan of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Ultimate revenge scheme Lol
It's alleged Aerosmith declined the use of that same plane.
Awesome video! I'm really surprised that they didn't accept the money. Maybe they are doing well enough with that poultry farm that 100 bucks just wouldn't cut it. It seems like there is always something getting in the way between fans and famous people's memorial sites. Attitudes.....politics....etc..
evil spirits
maybe they didn't want people to see something....
Where did you find the crash spot ,off pp wilson?@4:10 looks like maybe?excellent tribute by the way.
I don't know what got in to me..... been working away from home for two months and I been watching and listening to the best band I ever loved.... don't know if there be another to come along in my life time, but I'll try to name five in today's time...... the struts. the artic monkeys. cage the elephant. drop kick Murphy's. the misfits...... maybe..... god bless lynard skynyrd.......