It sounds like the gasket came off with the pan. If so, just separate the gasket from the pan and lower the pan. The gasket will definitely hang up on the filler tube.

Those 5 bolts are tough to get back in, but it can be done. I had to drop my pan 3 times in just a few days, and by the third time, I had those bolts going right in no problem. You do have the motor mount bracket free from the mount right?