Died On This Date (October 20, 1977) Dean Kilpatrick / Lynyrd Skynyrd Road Manager

Dean Kilpatrick
May 30, 1949 – October 20, 1977

Just three days after the release of Street Survivors, several members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, including Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, his sister, Cassie Gaines and road manager, Dean Kilpatrick boarded a small plane in Greenville, SC to Baton Rouge, LA.  For unknown reasons, the plane ran out of fuel just outside of Gillsburg, MS and crashed in the woods.  Van Zant, Cassie and Steve Gaines, and Kilpatrick were killed instantly.  Although other band members survived and the group’s popularity had grown significantly in recent months, Lynyrd Skynyrd was over until their much welcomed reformation in 1987.