On October 20, 1977, six of the 11 members of Lynyrd Skynyrd died in a plane crash over Mississippi. Tragically, rock stars dying in an aviation crash is not an uncommon occurrence, as it has also happened to John Denver, Buddy Holly, Jim Croce, and many more. However, what separates Lynyrd Skynrd’s tale from the rest is the story of how it happened, when it happened, and what occurred after it happened. One of the most commonly quoted tellers of the story is the band’s surviving drummer, Artimus Pyle.
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Pyle is an interesting individual, to say the least. Besides playing with Skynrd, the man has had quite a life both in the army and with his run-ins with the law. Though, that is not the focus of this story. Rather, Pyle has given a detailed account of that fateful day of the plane accident on numerous occasions., and the following is his version of the story.
A Tragic Accident That Changed Lynyrd Skynyrd Forever
In 2022, Pyle sat down with Forbes to discuss what he experienced during the crash.
“It’s been 45 years since the plane crash, but it seems like yesterday,” Pyle said. “And I think about it every day.”
Pyle recalled the event with a lot of emotion, as one would expect from the survivor of a horrifically traumatizing event.
“I was going back and forth from the cockpit to the cabin, talking to the pilots, telling everybody to put out their cigarettes, turn off any lights, and conserve any power we had,” he began the tale. “I didn’t have time to think, oh my God, we’re having a plane crash, but I knew it was serious.”
Subsequently, he detailed his last interaction with the band’s infamous lead singer, Ronnie Van Zandt.
“Ronnie went to the back of the plane, and I remember thinking to myself, that’s a good idea,” Pyle said. “You’re going to the back of the plane where it’s probably a little safer. But then, he came back forward. He stopped at my seat, did the old hippie handshake, then gave me a beautiful smile. Ronnie had a great smile. And that’s the last time I saw Ronnie.”
Artimus Pyle Sought Help and Was Almost Shot
When the plane crashed and Artimus Pyle found himself still alive, he ran to the closest place for help. Pyle allegedly found a nearby house and claimed that he was shot by a farmer who owned the house.
“I know the farmer was only protecting his family,” Pyle sympathized. “He came out of the house, and I looked like Charles Manson all covered in blood, with my long hair and beard. So, [sic] he shot me.”
The farmer denied these claims and it was later suggested that the “gunshot” might have really been a ricochet shot. However, Pyle felt what he felt and saw what he saw, and he still believes he was shot with a gun.
“He yelled stop, I saw the gun,” Pyle continued. “I was stumbling because I had injuries and thought I was dying. Then, something tore through my arm, and I yelled, ‘plane crash!’ with what I thought was my last breath.”
Following their interaction, Pyle and the farmer made it to the wreckage and were able to save the remaining 19 passengers who survived the plane crash in Gillsburg, Mississippi.
Photo by Alicia Funderburk/Getty Images
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