southernfriedmagazine.com - Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash Interview

Who owned the property where the plane crashed?

The actual resting place was on the corner of three different properties: my grandparents' (Percy & Delores Easley), Johnny Mote's, and Fernwood Industries'. The house closest to the plane crash belonged to my parents (Connie Easley Sturdivant & Griffin Sturdivant), my Aunt Lisa Easley, and Johnny Mote.

Where was your families house compared to the plane crash?

Our house was approximately a quarter mile through pasture and woods to the crash site.

Who was at home when the plane crash occured?

My mom (Connie), my two sisters (Natalie and Ashley), and my Aunt Lola. They were eating supper at out house, when they heard the plane crash. The windows were open because it was a cool evening, when they heard a very loud sound like "metal on metal". My mom said the sound lasted about thirty seconds, then nothing. They jumped in the car and went out to the road to see if they could find a car crash, because they had no idea it was a plane.

How did they find the plane crash?

My Uncle Dwain Easley and his friend Wayne Blades were hunting close to where the plane crash occured, and heard it. They took off into the swampy area looking for it, and were the first ones on the scene. They were the actual two men that pulled the injured and the dead from the plane. My Uncle Dwain would pass them down to Wayne , and then he would pass them on to the ground where other could get to them.

My mother, sisters, and Aunt Lola drove by Johnny Mote's house, where they found Johnny and crash survivor Artimus Pyle. They had called for help. They went into the woods and helicopters were flying around with big search lights, looking for the plane. Twenty-six people were in the plane when it crashed, and my Uncle Dwain pulled each of them out of the wreckage.

Did anyone see the plane before it crashed?

A few miles away, my Uncle Authur (Williams) saw the plane and knew it was going down. He called it in and thought it went down close to our house, which it had.

Who all helped at the crash?

Dwain Easley, Wayne Blades, Connie Sturdivant Richardson, Lola Easley, Johnny Mote, Gerald Wall, and many many others.

What was the crash scene like?

It was swampy, thick woods, and you had to cross a twenty-foot wide, waist high creek to get to the plane. It was a running creek that was between pasture and more woods. A log was used to cross over the creek and get to the crash site. There was total caos with helicopters hovering overhead with search lights to eluminate the crash scene. There were dead and injured people everywhere. People were screaming. Clothes, luggage, money, and other items scattered everywhere.

How did help get through the woods to the crash scene?

They had to bring in a bulldozer to cut a path into the woods, then cross the creek. Three ambulances got stuck in the pasture. People began using pickup trucks to tranport the dead and injured. It took three or more hours to get the victims out.

What family members later went to visit the hospital?

My Aunt Lisa went. She knew who Lynyrd Skynyrd was, from listening to their music. She returned the late Ronnie VanZant's (singer) hat to his wife Judy VanZant.

My mom held she held one crash victim in her arms at the crash scene, in an effort to comfort him. She later found out it was guitarist Steve Gaines, who died. She was with Leslie Hawkins, whose lip was nearly torn off.

What did the National Guard do at the crash scene?

They were there to secure the area, so investigators could figure out what happened. There were so many people coming down there and even some of the rescue people were taking stuff. They brought in the guard to stop all that.

Who took the picture of the plane crash?

It was taken by my Aunt Lisa, the day after the crash.

Did any of the survivors come back the visit in the following years?

Yes, some of them came back to my Aunt Lisa's house, and the nearby campground. They also went to Johnny Mote's place, too.

What happened to your family members that were involved?

They are all still in the area, except my Aunt Lisa. She died in a car wreck in January of 1982, about a mile from the plane crash.

You said Johnny Mote moved, what happened to him?

He is still in the area, and owner of Parklane Mini-Storage in McComb Mississippi.

Are there any Lynyrd Skynyrd tributes in the area?

Not one. I don't understand why not, because there are so many fans still.

You went to the Southern Tribute concert on Johnny Mote's property in 2002 featuring Artimus Pyle, Travis Tritt and others. How was it?

It rocked! We enjoyed everyone except for country singer Travis Tritt.

What are some of your memories of the Southern Tribute concert?

The best part was when Artimus Pyle got up on stage and blasted the ones who tried to stop the "tribute" concert. Headliner Travis Tritt would not let the bands play on his (so called) professional stage because he claimed that they were not professional enough. I thought Artimus Pyle said exactly what needed to be said. We stayed until the thunderstorm ran everyone off. They played "Freebird" with one of Ronnie VanZant's hat's on the microphone. Two fifth-size bottles of Jack Daniels Whiskey were tossed out to the crowd, to have a toast to the victims of the plane crash. It was very emotional for everyone. They rocked, even in the thunderstorm for a while before the show ended. Artimus still has it!

Did you get to talk to Artimus Pyle?

I tried to get to him, but there were too many people trying to get his autographed. My husband Terry got his autograph.

Has Lynyrd Skynyrd ever played in the area?

No, that was the first time any members has played here.I wish they would come back. I love their music. I have been able to relate much of my life to the songs Lynyrd Skynyrd sang. They were, and will always be legends to me. As long as the fans keep there music alive, those band members didn't die in vain. They died, and withour help the "bird will continue to fly free".

Interview by Pat Adams, webmaster of www.southerntribute.com, a tribute to the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash, along with the help of Jacquelyn Cooper.

Pat is also the webmaster of www.tennesseeconcerts.com, with over 1,000 Nashville area concert pictures.