Billy Powell was right. There was no Lynyrd Skynyrd after that day. ☹

This is what "News" used to be, just news.

Wow an actual news report telling it like it is without any political bias or objective tarnishing the story. Those days are long gone.

In the If I Leave Home Tomorrow documentary they actually found small pieces of wreckage from the plane still lying there in the woods after 40 years. Crazy how we really are just here on earth for a moment and then it's over.

I was 17yrs old when the tragic plane crash occurred. What a band. Their music will never die and I celebrate it now just like I did when I was boy.

Saw SKYNYRD 3 times in the ‘70’s GREATEST southern rock band EVER!! I’ll NEVER FORGET that HORRIBLE day when I heard the news💔😢RIP🙏🙏💙

Plane crashed Thursday , I had tickets for Saturday in Evansville , Indiana . My buddy in Illinois still has his tickets ! I think they were $4.50 … $5.50 day of show !

They should of never got on that plane. Most of these guys felt something was going to happen. Trust your instincts. RIP

I miss my brother Billy Powell......nobody can ever replace him....god bless bro!!

Damn, that sigh he gave at the end before saying "i don't think so." You could hear his dreams just disintegrate within that sigh.

I am a Delta airlines pilot and the fact that this was due to human error is astonishing

Empty fuel tanks prevented the plane turning into a fireball on impact, strangely the cause of the crash was also the reason why 20 passengers managed to survive.

Thank you for posting this video. I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd in concert July 10, 1977. My first concert. I am so thankful I got the chance to see them perform.

I don't think anybody can ever replace old Lynyrd Skynrd r.i.p. people.

After we heard of the crash, my boyfriend and i went down to the railroad tracks, and under a full moon, prayed for them. We were not particularly religious, but felt it was something we had to do.

Listening to this grieves me in two ways. I always feel like it just happened, so the I am wounded afresh each time I hear it. And I feel a closeness to these total strangers that I suppose is caused by following the band in every way possible, being a fellow Southerner. Indeed, the music died this day. It was such a terrible loss to music lovers and family alike.

Run out of fuel?! Man I don't even do that in my car how on earth do you do that in a plane??

I remember walking into school the morning after and everybody talking about the crash. Years later I was lucky enough to see the Rossington Collins Band perform. Great concert. Miss them good ole boys.

Lost some of the best that day 😞

This was really hard to watch. Their music was the soundtrack of my youth.

remember this day all too well. sad,sad day.

Read aerosmiths biography they were about to buy that same plane for their tour but backed out because of faults it's all about greedy owners and managers

I heard Aerosmith was considering hiring the pilot that chartered that Lynyrd Skynyrd flight. After a night of partying with the flight crew, they wisely passed.

I was living in San Diego and taking a shower when this news broke over KGB radio, one of the local R & R stations in town. Had one of those little AM/FM radios about the size of a VHS cassette box resting on the window sill. I was nearly 22 years of age, so I ditched some worthless class that I was supposed to attend at San Diego State and wound up at a nearby bar called Lanna's Lounge, which was within walking distance from my little studio apartment. Lanna's was open early in the morning, and I remember drinking boilermaker after boilermaker of Coors and Hill and Hill whiskey....Never would have commented on this video if I hadn't seen it listed on the preview page...62 years old now and that tragic day remains so clear in my mind that it might as well have happened only yesterday, instead of all those years ago....Jeezus.....

Why is reporting no longer like this?

Thank you for posting this...

For those who have never been in the air and had plane issues, it's nothing you ever want to experience. I've had three experiences and haven't flown since. The last time was in 2013 from South America back to Nashville with nothing but water could only be seen from the air . RIP to those that lost their lives.

I live in Greenville and remember my mother and aunt crying over this and Elvis dying in 77. I was little. Six years old.

Some friends and I saw their concert here in Greenville the day before the crash. I'll never forget any of it. Nazareth opened for them that night at The Memorial Auditorium. What a show! Steve Gaines sang lead on his song, "Ain't No Good Life" from the "Street Survivors " album. And I'll never forget them playing "I know A Little," "Saturday Night Special," and "Freebird." When I heard the report on WFBC News it really knocked me for a loop because they inaccurately stated "all on board perished." I just wish they "all" had survived that terrible day. RIP Ronnie, Steve, Cassie and Dean.

I saw Skynrd 10 years to the day of the crash, oct 1987 and BJCC in Birmingham al. Great show.

An amazing rock band against a wicked destiny. After years they still battle with pride and the still honour thoose missed and still play as an amazing rock band. And they are my best rock band...over the years they give us a big lesson ..never surrender...never forget who you loved and what u are ! Simple mens ...for big souls...friendships never ends ! Thanks for all! Skynyrd fan from Italy.

Lynyrd Skynyrd got their first warning when the plane had been turned down by another group called Aerosmith. The plane had fuel gauges inoperative which required sticking the tank before and after fueling. The pilot had to have been involved in this procedure and signed off on it. Additionally, I had heard that the right engine was in bad running condition belching and rough running the leg before. It worried a background vocalist woman that she bought a ticket.

I'm only 31 years old but skynyrd is by far my favorite music group. In my opinion they never made a bad song. Ronnie was a legend and greatness was lost that day. I only wish I could have watched them play. I envy those who got that honor.

I'll never forget that day! Same as the day I heard about Stevie Ray Vaughn. Both times it broke my heart...so sad. 😢

Wow. Thank you for this footage rockinthe904.

Weird...what ultimately killed them (fuel starvation) is what also saved the people that lived from burning up after crash.

Thanks for the post...I remember hearing about this on TV and thought, Oh my God NO !!! I think that I was in shock about the news...We lost some very awesome people that day in the music industry...Rest in Peace Ronnie and the Rest of the people that we died that day...Gone, but have never been forgotten

It’s Crazy how Anything can Happen and Everything can be taken from you in a Split Second So Freakin Sad man just Wow….❤

God Bless the Band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Such a shame so many good artists died

Imagine surviving a horrible plane crash and they fly you to a hospital 😭🤣 I'd be having an anxiety attack

I remember when i herd the plane crash with the band it was very sad. Iam happy to here that the remaining members of the band desided to contined on. Thanks i love your music god bless all of you

STiLL Crying at This loss😧😧😧😧. I did see them in 1976. AMAZING

I was 13 when this happened but I didn’t know who they were. I don’t remember wtf I was doing to not know Skynrd? My bad. Bless you for taping this and sharing. Thank you kindly.

Lynyrd Skynyrd will never die.

Tragedy from pilot error miscalculating fuel. Pathetic!

I thought I'd saw,about everything there was on this crash... Old news papers , pictures and witnesses, but I've never saw a actual news broadcast from the wreck. Thanks for sharing and thanks to all those first responders

Was 12 years old remember very well. Loved them just bought the street survivors lp at kmart 54 now still have the lp still seems like yesterday

I read articles. Watch KZfaq videos. About Skynyrd. The inner fighting right now. Everything about this is sad. It's really terrible to think of the lives cut short. All the guys involved in the band. This is 40 years now that The Free Birds set sail. Fly on guys. Fly on in Peace.

The investigation concluded that the damn plane ran out of gas. We lost Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, his sister, and others in that crash. It is something that should never have happened. We all mourn the loss to this day.

Thank you for sharing Those of us not alive at the time, cherish old times and things like this. Thank you. Sometimes it seems like a distant memory. Like we were alive. It's weird sometimes how our minds work.

I was in a plane crash in San Francisco in 2013 where people died and I find comfort for some strange reason in watching this. By strange coincidence in 1980 I saw Rossington Collins in Springfield, Massachusetts up close against the stage and it kept running through my mind about their plane crash as I was watching them.

What happened to these people that day is unamaginible my heart goes out to all involved even after all these years, footage like this brings it home big style

My heart truly broke that day and I still miss them. I cried then and I'm teared up now. Only band I ever felt like I knew them boys without ever meeting. And there really is weird stuff about that damn crash. Their music is timeless

Lord! What an ordeal. I don't know how any of them survived that mess. God bless Billy Powell for being able to give this interview, it had to of took a lot of courage.

One of my other favorites..I was not around when this happened because I was not born until the mid 90s ..its a shame that this had to happen and could of been prevented 😪😢

Rip Ronnie you still missed today 42 years ago .

Greatest rock band ever! The kids today have Taylor Swift! Sad

Thanks I was young dumb growing up but I always wondered what really happened to my favorite band,and the newest music in my life at the time,thanks respects to all.

Watched this several times, gets me every time

being from Greenville SC, I think about this every time I drive near that airport.

Ending part is about Van Zant "I don't think so." He was the field marshal of the group, he wrote the lyrics, called the shots, dictated every rehearsal detail, etc. It was like losing Lennon & McCartney and asking if the Beatles could go on. 6:52

It's amazing that someone survived a plane crash that's something that doesn't happen very often

I live in New Orleans and remember waking up that day for work to the news of the crash. It was especially shocking because it was so close to home. I felt like an era died that day...the southern rock era.

I remember this so well. I was in high school. I live a little over an hour away from where they crashed. Very sad day.

I got the picture of them all their autographs a good memory

Tom Wills is the reporter. He is now anchorman on WJXT in Jacksonville in 2021.

I was 13 and remember this very well. It was a sad, sad day 😢😟😞

Very sad day..they will always be remembered

Still miss those guys. Damn.

Still heartbreaking....was at their last concert Greenville, SC. The crash was a nightmare then & even now. Skynyrd is Legend!

God Bless you Tom Wills for being there for us all, I truly wish reporters were like you today,The world would be a better place...

Very genuine despair at the last answer by powell Thats really sad

Skynyrd was thankfully recorded so we can enjoy their gracious music forever!

Lynyrd Skynyrd Memorial Site is a must to see!

I was a nurse at Southwest and remember this day very well. We worked together to help the survivors. Seeing my nurse coworkers long ago brings back memories.

I remember that day as yesterday when it was announced, I was at a bond fire 17 yrs partying. Oh oh that smell...god bless Lynard Skynard

20 survivors that's amazing

I loved this band and these people.

It's on the pilot, he killed some of the best.

You hear all these stories about what happened and some of it is hard to believe,Heard that Artimus Pyle had several broken ribs even one through the skin,Major concussion and he was treated and released?,Cassie Dying in Billy Powells arms while he's trying to find his nose that according to him wasn't on his face lol,There was only 1 member in that band that wasn't replaceable and that was Ronnie,I love Gary Rossington and i have all the respect in the world for him on why he tried keeping Skynyrd alive,That band was the American version of the Stones in the prime of their careers for it to end like it did,I truly believe he's trying to keep The deseased members alive,I can only imagine the Trama the survivors went thru

sad day in music History🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸💯💖💯

Ronnie you will forever be in our hearts and will continue to inspire us all in our music and our everyday lives. You truly will, forever, be a Freebird 😢

Good reporting.

I remember exactly where I was when I heard about it.

I never in my life have used the term, I know what you mean,if I have not experienced something, I say, I can only imagine, but in this tragic, horrific incident, I can't even imagine. God bless you guys still alive and with us.

I saw them in august 1977. Phenomenal. Skynyrd was at the height of fame. I could not believe it when I heard it. This was the one and only Skynyrd. Todays band is just a tribute band

been a skynyrd fan since high school, graduated, 1981. ben to lots of shows since. johnny and company have done an awsome job, honoring the origanal band. love you guys. keep doing what your doing. i think Ronnie would be proud. i am 56, realy loved "were back you badtards" god bless

I seen another documentary where that plane had known issues . Another rock band passed on buying the plane before skynyrd bought it. Fast forward later on. Plane acting up. The band had opportunity to take a bus but ronnie said they would take the plane. It needed service and could get it done at thier destination

Pieces of our hearts were lost that day. Our legends are still leaving us too soon. Rest in Peace.

That was a sad 😢 day I remember when it happened. I still like and listening to this bands music after all these years. R.I.P. too all the members that didn't make it. ✌😑👍

this original line up of skynyrd were an amazing band, i listen to them all the time.

Rock in Peace Gary Rossinton. Condolences to his family & friends.

The landing in the trees definitely enabled most of them to survive.

Such a sad sad day in history. I say this with all due respect....when it's your time...it's your time. Ronnie told many he would never live to see 30 and sadly he was right. The music lives on! ♡

The fact there were any survivors at all, that's a miracle onto itself

One of the worst days of the rest of my life...Skynyrd, Lennon, Belushi. Not to mention the others who passed from natural causes

I remember hearing this on the radio and the DJ broke down and started crying sad day

We used to finish our set with 'Freebird' - the last time at the Stonehenge Festival. Oh, boy, it was fun.

Rip...😥what a sad loss