Tragic circumstances unfolded in White County when a small airplane crash claimed the lives of three people on yesterday, according to WSMV4. The crash, which occurred shortly before noon near Almyra Road, involved a Mooney M20TN aircraft. Upper Cumberland Regional Airport Director Dean Selby disclosed that it was the airport's first fatal accident in over 15 years, mentioning this in a statement obtained by WSMV4. Crews responded to the scene following a 911 call from an eyewitness who reportedly saw the plane going down, and emergency personnel are working to remove the victims' bodies from the wreckage.
Details were sparse as the crash's specifics and the identity of the victims remain to be publicly released, with initial reports confirming two men and one woman were onboard the ill-fated flight. Selby further explained the difficulties in locating the crash site; a pilot from the airport took to the skies aiding ground search efforts and managed to pinpoint the location, he told WSMV4. The incident prompted a significant response from local emergency services and led the White County Firefighters Association to update the community via Facebook, as mentioned by NewsChannel5.
The Federal Aviation Administration was quick to arrive at the scene, with the National Transportation Safety Board set to begin a thorough investigation the following day. The wreckage will remain untouched until initial investigations are complete, as stated by Selby in an interview with News 2. Residents were advised to avoid the area of Almyra Road and Howell Cemetery Road until further notice, a recommendation echoed by the North End Volunteer Fire Department, which also responded to the call for assistance yesterday afternoon.
This fatal incident has inevitably cast a somber shadow over the community and has drawn focus to the safety of small aircraft operations. As investigations proceed and the affected families confront this swift and sorrowful loss, details on the cause of the crash are awaited, for now the cause of the crash remains unknown and the investigation by the NTSB and FAA is expected to bring forth much-needed answers, which will be critical in preventing future tragedies of this nature Dean Selby reminded community members and the press, according to a statement obtained by News 2.
