October 20, 1977 A chartered plane carrying southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed in a forested area near McComb, Mississippi. Band members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines died in the crash; Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, Leon Williams, Billy Powell, Artimus Pyle and Leslie Hawkins suffered serious injuries. Sweet Home Alabama Written by Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington and Ed King