Convair CV-300 near Gillsburg, MS — 1977-10-20
- Date
- 1977-10-20
- Location
- Gillsburg, MS, USA
- Aircraft
- Convair CV-300
Probable cause
NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.
NTSB narrative
On October 20, 1977, a Convair CV-240 twin-engine airliner carrying the members of Lynyrd Skynyrd ran out of fuel during cruise descent near Gillsburg, Mississippi and crashed into heavily wooded terrain approximately eight miles south of McComb Pike County Airport. The aircraft, powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engines, had departed Greenville, South Carolina under IFR for Baton Rouge, Louisiana at 12,000 feet. A known right engine malfunction requiring an auto-rich mixture setting had been identified on a prior flight but was never repaired. The increased fuel consumption from that configuration, combined with the crew's inaccurate fuel planning, led to total fuel exhaustion during the approach phase. Six people were killed, including both pilots and four passengers — lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backup vocalist Cassie Gaines, and assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick. Twenty-one others survived with serious injuries. The accident occurred during day VMC conditions.