History of Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 23, 2026

On October 20, 1977, Lynyrd Skynyrd's chartered Convair CV-240 crashed in Mississippi after running out of fuel en route from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The crash resulted in multiple fatalities, including band members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, and assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, as well as both pilots. The incident significantly impacted the band and their future, marking a tragic end to their peak era and leading to years of legal battles and eventual reformation with a different lineup.

October 19, 1977: Lynyrd Skynyrd Performance in Greenville

On October 19, 1977, Lynyrd Skynyrd performed at the Greenville Memorial Auditorium in Greenville, South Carolina, two days after releasing their album Street Survivors.

October 20, 1977: Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash

On October 20, 1977, a Convair CV-240 passenger aircraft, chartered by Lynyrd Skynyrd, ran out of fuel and crashed in a wooded area near Gillsburg, Mississippi while flying from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, near its destination.

1998: Autopsy Reports Posted

In early 1998, Judy Van Zant Jenness, Van Zant's widow, posted autopsy reports on the band's website, while confirming other aspects of Powell's account.

2017: Lawsuit to Block "Street Survivors" Film

In 2017, surviving members of the band and family of those who died in the crash filed a lawsuit to block production and distribution of the film entitled "Street Survivors: The True Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash".

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February 18, 2020: "Street Survivors" Film Premieres

On February 18, 2020, the film "Street Survivors: The True Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash" premiered at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, despite a previous lawsuit to block its production.

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