Did You Know? Aerosmith Nearly Rented the Plane From Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Fatal Crash

In the summer of 1977, the American rock band Aerosmith was scouting planes for their upcoming tour. The band was preparing to release their fifth studio album, Draw The Line, followed by a tour in the fall. The band and management inspected a Conair CV-240 plane in Addison, Texas. The band’s assistant chief of flight operations found the plane’s condition wasn’t being properly maintained. Apparently, they also noticed the plane’s pilots sharing a bottle of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, which was a red flag even for the band with a party reputation. Ultimately, Aerosmith passed on the plane and sought other options. Soon after, Lynyrd Skynyrd rented the same plane for their upcoming tour, ironically named Tour of the Survivors.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Embarked on a Tour Promoting Their Fifth Studio Album Using the Plane

The 1977 album Street Survivors was a success, further establishing Lynyrd Skynyrd as one of the top American rock acts. It peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. Street Survivors contained three singles for the band. “What’s Your Name?” peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, “That Smell,” failed to chart but gained popularity posthumously. The album’s third single peaked at No. 69 on the Hot 100. Street Survivors was officially released on October 17, 1977.

A mere 3 days later, on October 20, the plane ran out of fuel and crashed in a wooded area in Gillsburg, Mississippi. The night before, the band had performed at the Greenville Memorial Auditorium in Greenville, South Carolina. They boarded the plane the next day and set out for Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to perform at Louisiana State University. Towards the end of the flight, the plane ran out of fuel. The pilots attempted to re-route towards McComb Airport, about 10 miles away from where the plane eventually went down. Upon realizing they won’t make it to the airport, they attempted an emergency landing. Instead, the plane skimmed the top of the tree line and crashed into a large tree, tearing the plane apart.

Out of the 26 people on board, only 20 survived. 6 people died in the crash, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist and vocalist Steve Gaines. Steve Gaines’s sister, Cassie Gaines, was touring as a backing vocalist and was also killed in the crash. Other members of Lynyrd Skynyrd were badly injured, and some took years and even decades to recover. It is among the most tragic events in rock history.

Members of Aerosmith Felt Survivors Guilt Upon Hearing the News

Shortly after news broke of the Lynyrd Skynyrd crash, members of Aerosmith soon realized the plane was the same one they had turned down months prior. Joe Perry and his bandmates were shaken by the news, and claimed their cautious crew saved their lives, along with a higher power. Aerosmith went on to have further success in the 70s. They saw even bigger success in the 1980s with a major comeback in the late 80s following sobriety.

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s career was abruptly halted following the incident. Ronnie Van Zant’s younger brother, Johnny Van Zant, revived the band for a reunion tour in 1987. Led by Johnny Van Zant, Lynyrd Skynyrd continues to tour to this day with various lineup changes throughout the years. Johnny has dedicated over three decades to preserving the legacy of his older brother’s group.