A single-engine plane, identified as an experimental Aviat PTS1, tragically plunged into the Cumberland River near Cheatham County, resulting in the pilot's death on Monday afternoon. WSMV confirms first responders arrived at the scene off Chapmansboro Road, to find the aircraft submerged in around five feet of water.
Officials stated that the aerobatic plane, which is typically used for aerial stunts, had departed from a nearby commuter airport; the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office confirmed there were no other passengers on board at the time of the incident and the plane was discovered upside down in the river, according to information provided by NewsChannel5.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been engaged by local authorities and subsequently relayed to News 2 that indeed an Aviat Pitts S-1-11B was the model involved in the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is to lead an investigation into the cause of the mishap, it was located near the Dyson Ditch Wildlife Refuge which boasts a challenging terrain.
Accessibility to the crash site proved treacherous due to the remote location, "It was very difficult to get to, the area that it’s in is very remote,” Lieutenant Drew Akin of the Cheatham County Fire Department described the scene to News 2, noting that some deputies went into the river in an attempt to save the victim "without hesitation. They got into the water to try and make contact to see if a rescue was going to be possible. In this case, it wasn’t" were Akin's exact words.
Due to ongoing investigations and recovery efforts, Ashland City Parks has advised that the Eagle Pass Trailhead and surrounding trails will be closed temporarily encouraging visitors to reroute to Marks Creek Trailhead and the Sycamore Harbor side instead as announced in News 2 coverage of the incident.
