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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsLynyrd Skynyrd’s plane crashed near Gillsburg, Mississippi, on October 20, 1977, killing six of the 26 people aboard, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that the aircraft ran out of fuel and both engines lost power; inadequate flight planning and a right-engine malfunction also contributed to the accident.
What happened to Lynyrd Skynyrd in the plane crash?
The band was traveling from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, aboard an L&J Company Convair 240, registration N55VM. At approximately 6:52 p.m. Central Daylight Time, the aircraft crashed about five miles northeast of Gillsburg, Mississippi.
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The NTSB’s accident report records 24 passengers and two crew members aboard. The two crew members and four passengers died; the other 20 people were injured. The aircraft was destroyed on impact, and the report records no post-impact fire. The Associated Press’s 2023 historical account identifies Ronnie Van Zant, the band’s lead singer, among the three Lynyrd Skynyrd members killed; three other people also died.
What caused the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash?
The NTSB adopted its report on June 19, 1978. It determined that the probable cause was fuel exhaustion and the resulting total loss of power from both engines, due to crew inattention to the fuel supply. The Board separately identified inadequate flight planning and a right-engine malfunction of undetermined nature as contributing factors. That malfunction led to higher-than-normal fuel consumption, according to the report.
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The distinction matters: fuel exhaustion and the loss of power from both engines were the NTSB’s stated probable cause; inadequate planning and the unresolved right-engine malfunction were contributing factors. The NTSB report is the primary source for the aircraft details, casualty totals, and cause. The AP account provides historical context about the band members who died.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to read the official accident findings
The NTSB report, Aircraft Accident Report: L & J Company, Convair 240, N55VM, Gillsburg, Mississippi, October 20, 1977, contains the factual record, analysis, conclusions, and probable cause. A copy is hosted by Autopsyfiles.org, but the report was issued by the NTSB. The Board’s aviation resources page explains how to find accident reports and supporting dockets.
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