Plane crash in Tennessee: Three dead after small aircraft goes down near Upper Cumberland Regional Airport
A Mooney M20TN aircraft crashed in a remote area of White County, Tennessee, while descending toward the local airport. Authorities confirmed the deaths of all three people on board and continue to investigate the cause of the accident.
A single-engine Mooney M20TN aircraft crashed Saturday morning south of Upper Cumberland Regional Airport in White County, Tennessee, killing all three people on board. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the accident occurred as the aircraft was descending toward the airport after departing from Alabama.
Dean Selby, the airport’s director, said that around 11:50 a.m., reports came in about a potential crash. Shortly after, the Memphis Air Traffic Control Center contacted the airport to report it had lost communication with an aircraft. Emergency crews, firefighters, rescue teams, and volunteers joined the search and were eventually able to locate the crash site with the help of a plane dispatched from the airport.
Remote area complicated aircraft search
The aircraft was found in a remote area, which made search and rescue efforts more difficult. Selby explained that due to the terrain, an aerial search was necessary to locate the wreckage. The FAA arrived at the crash site within a few hours to begin the initial investigation, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to take the lead on Sunday.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims, pending notification of their families. The airport remains in coordination with federal agencies as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.
The scene was in White County, Tennessee, and it was difficult for rescuers to access the site because it is a remote part of the county. Photo: NBC
Series of recent small aircraft crashes raise concern
This incident adds to a string of recent fatal small aircraft crashes in the United States. In recent weeks, several similar accidents have occurred across the country, all resulting in the deaths of those on board. Last Saturday, three people died when a small plane crashed into a river in Nebraska, and the following Sunday, four others were killed in Illinois after a single-engine plane went down.
There were also crashes in residential areas, such as in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, where an aircraft struck a house, and another in upstate New York. Aviation authorities are continuing to evaluate potential common factors in these incidents and are reinforcing the importance of following safety protocols.