Investigation Summary
The aircraft, a 29 year old Convair, had been the subject of concern among the band and crew prior to the accident. Just days earlier, witnesses had reported seeing flames shooting from the right engine. Despite these warnings, the flight departed Greenville with an estimated five hours of fuel for a two hour and 45 minute flight; records show the aircraft was refueled with 400 gallons of 100-octane, low-lead fuel while on the ground at Greenville. During the journey, the right engine experienced an undetermined malfunction that led to 'torching' and significantly higher than normal fuel consumption. The NTSB found that the pilots operated the aircraft with the right engine's mixture control in the 'auto-rich' position for an indeterminate period, further depleting the fuel supply. When the crew finally realized they were out of fuel, they requested vectors to McComb Airport but were unable to maintain altitude. The aircraft skimmed the tree line for approximately 100 yards before impacting a large tree and breaking apart.
Final Conclusions
The NTSB determined the probable cause was fuel exhaustion and total loss of power from both engines due to crew inattention to fuel supply. Contributing factors included inadequate flight planning and an engine malfunction of undetermined nature in the right engine that resulted in higher than normal fuel consumption. The investigation also highlighted a lack of clarity regarding operator responsibility in the lease agreement between L & J Company and the band's production company.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Walter McCreary
First Officer
William John Gray
Systems & Failure Modes
Fuel System
The aircraft suffered total fuel exhaustion. Investigators found all fuel cross-feed and fuel dump valves in the closed position.
Right Engine Mixture Control
The crew operated the right engine in the 'auto-rich' position, which contributed to excessive fuel consumption during the flight.
Ignition Magneto
Post-crash inspection of the right engine's magneto showed no mechanical or electrical discrepancies.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Convair CV-300, a modified CV-240, manufactured in 1948 with manufacturer serial number (MSN) 3.
- 02Six people died: Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, Dean Kilpatrick, Walter McCreary, and William John Gray.
- 03The aircraft had been previously inspected and rejected by the band Aerosmith's flight crew due to concerns about the plane and crew.
- 04NTSB testing found the right engine's ignition magneto was operating normally despite reports of engine 'torching' on previous flights.
- 05The survivors included drummer Artimus Pyle, who walked to a nearby farm to seek help despite having broken ribs.
Safety Actions & Advisories
FAA Civil Penalty
Source ↗The FAA initiated legal action against L & J Company, seeking a civil penalty for operating a flight for compensation or hire without a commercial operator certificate, highlighting the ambiguity of the lease agreement.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Disputed Crash Details
Reference ↗Keyboardist Billy Powell's account of Ronnie Van Zant's death and the final moments of the flight were partially disputed by drummer Artimus Pyle and Van Zant's widow based on autopsy reports.