A small plane crash that occurred on Saturday morning at Crossville Memorial Airport has been reported to have involved a mechanical failure during the landing procedure. WSMV4 disclosed details of the incident, noting that the crash happened around 8 a.m. Central Time. The aircraft in question, initially described incorrectly as a Citation Learjet and later corrected, was experiencing a mechanical issue with its braking system, according to the Crossville Fire Chief. This problem led to the plane swerving off the runway during its attempted landing.
Five individuals were aboard the Learjet, which consisted of three pilots and two passengers. Remarkably, no one sustained injuries from the accident, although the plane itself did not fare as well—it underwent structural damage. The runway has been closed for the investigation but was expected to reopen by noon, as indicated by reports from the scene.
The local emergency crews swiftly responded, with the Crossville/Cumberland Emergency Management Agency releasing a statement at 8:42 a.m. confirming the presence of multiple emergency services on-site. According to 102.5 Wow Country, this included Crossville Fire, Crossville PD, Cumberland County Fire Department, Cumberland County EMS, and the Cumberland County EMA. Additionally, they alerted motorists traveling on Hwy 70 E/Sparta Hwy to be cautious of emergency personnel attending the scene.
Further investigation into the aircraft, labeled a Cessna Citation, revealed it was only three weeks old, having departed Morgantown, West Virginia Saturday morning before the incident. Official notifications were promptly made to both the FAA and NTSB following the aircraft’s unfortunate skid off the runway, as noted by 3B Media News. The response from local authorities and the lack of physical harm coming to those on board highlights a well-coordinated effort in the face of potential disaster. Further details on the cause of the crash and status of the ongoing investigation are forthcoming.
