Music Plane Crash Victims #6 - Ronnie Van Zant

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Based upon an idea by @JudyEv, we are at #6 in my Music Plane Crash Victims series (I don't use "favorite" for morbid reasons:) Ronnie Van Zant. Best known as the vocalist and principle songwriter for legendary southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ronnie Van Zant's music career began with the formation of the beginnings of the band in 1964, and lasted until his death in 1977, when a plane carrying the group crashed in a heavily wooded area outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi. Guitarist Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray also perished in the crash, which happened during an attempted emergency landing. According to keyboardist Billy Powell, Van Zant was not wearing a seatbelt and died upon impact when his head hit the roof. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the crash was caused by "fuel exhaustion and total loss of power from both engines due to crew inattention to fuel supply...inadequate flight planning and an engine malfunction of undetermined nature in the right engine which resulted in...higher-than-normal fuel consumption." Best known for classic songs such as "Freebird" and "Sweet Home Alabama," Lynyrd Skynyrd has sold over 28 million albums in the US, and are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Despite the tragedy, the band continues on, although guitarist Gary Rossington is the only remaining founding member. Van Zant's younger brother Johnny is now Skynyrd's vocalist. It's a testament to Ronnie Van Zant's talent, and the band's ongoing popularity, that you hear Lynyrd Skynyrd at some point whenever you visit a bar with a jukebox. Don't believe me? Go hang out in a bar with a jukebox. You'll hear them eventually during your stay. (Info verified by Wikipedia)