Lynyrd Skynyrd Band Charter Flight Crash in Mississippi (N55VM)

Flight Details and Departure N55VM was completing a charter flight from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, carrying members of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Band. The aircraft had arrived at Greenville Downtown Airport from Lakeland, Florida, at 04:30 CDT on October 18 and was refueled with 400 gallons of 100-octane, low-lead fuel. On October 20 at 16:02 CDT, the flight departed Greenville Downtown Airport for Baton Rouge under an IFR flight plan filed with the Greenville Flight Service Station. The planned route included Victor 20 Electric City, direct Atlanta, direct La Grange, direct Hattiesburg, Victor 222 McComb, V194, and then Baton Rouge. The pilot requested an altitude of 12,000 feet, estimated an en route time of 2 hours 45 minutes, and reported 5 hours of fuel on board. A weather briefing was also provided. ## Descent and Fuel Emergency After reaching 12,000 feet, N55VM proceeded according to the flight plan. At 18:39, the flight was cleared to descend to and maintain 6,000 feet, a clearance that was acknowledged. At 18:40, the flight told Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), “We're out of one two thousand for six thousand.” About 18:42, N55VM advised Houston Center that it needed to reach the closest airport. When asked whether it was in an emergency, the crew replied that it was low on fuel and requested vectors to McComb. Houston Center provided vectors to McComb and advised a heading of 025°. The flight did not confirm that a turn was initiated until 18:44. At 18:44:34, the pilot stated that it was not declaring an emergency but needed to get close to McComb as directly as possible. At 18:45:12, N55VM advised Houston that it was out of fuel. The center asked for confirmation, and the flight responded that it was “just an indication of it,” without explaining what that indication was. At 18:45:47, Houston Center requested the aircraft’s altitude, and the response was, “We're at four point five.” This was the last recorded communication between N55VM and the ARTCC. ## Crash and Casualties Several attempts by Houston Center to contact the flight received no response. At 18:55:51, an aircraft reported picking up a weak transmission from an emergency locator transmitter (ELT). The aircraft crashed in heavily wooded terrain during twilight hours at an elevation of 310 feet near the town of Gillsburg, Mississippi. Both pilots, band members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, and the band's manager Dean Kilpatrick were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.