In a devastating incident that unfolded on Monday night, a small single-engine plane crashed near Interstate 40 in West Nashville, Tennessee, resulting in the tragic loss of five lives, including three children. The victims, all Canadian citizens, were on board the Piper PA-32, which originated in Ontario, Canada, and was en route to John C. Tune Airport in Nashville.
The pilot, in a distressing call to air traffic controllers at around 7:40 p.m., reported engine and power failure, prompting an emergency landing request at John C. Tune Airport. Despite receiving approval to land on Runway 2, the pilot expressed uncertainty about reaching the airport, stating, “My engine shut off. I’m at sixteen hundred [feet]. I’m going to be landing … I don’t know where.” Moments later, the plane crashed into the grassy shoulder of Interstate 40, east of the airport.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have initiated investigations into the crash of the Piper PA-32, a 1978 model registered in Canada under the tail number C-FBWH. Preliminary findings indicate a catastrophic and complete loss of engine power for reasons yet unknown, as the plane circled over the airport at 2,500 feet before the tragic descent.
Audio recordings from LiveATC.net captured the harrowing communication between the pilot and air traffic control, revealing the desperate attempts to guide the distressed aircraft to safety. Witnesses reported the plane’s apparent distress as it approached the interstate, ultimately crashing behind a Costco store, erupting into flames upon impact.
The victims, whose identities are yet to be officially released, had embarked on a journey that included stops in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Mount Sterling, Kentucky, likely for refueling. Authorities are coordinating with the Canadian government to confirm the identities of the deceased.
The crash led to the temporary closure of I-40 east at mile marker 202, as emergency responders and investigative teams swiftly arrived at the scene. Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell expressed condolences and gratitude for the quick response of Metro emergency responders.
As the wreckage is transported to a facility in Springfield, Tennessee, for further examination, investigators aim to unravel the circumstances surrounding the engine failure and the decision-making process that led to the tragic crash. The NTSB is expected to release a preliminary report within 10 days, while a comprehensive investigation may take up to nine months.
This heart-wrenching incident has left the community in mourning, highlighting the fragility of life and the need for thorough aviation safety investigations to prevent such tragedies in the future.