A 45-year-old aviation YouTuber and her 78-year-old father were killed in a plane crash near Pulaski, Tennessee, on Thursday, December 7, 2023. The crash occurred around 11:15 a.m. near Diana Ridge Road.
Jenny Blalock and her father, James Blalock, were flying a single-engine Beechcraft 35, which departed from Knoxville Downtown Island Airport about an hour and 15 minutes before the crash.
Jenny Blalock, known to her over 15,000 YouTube subscribers as TNFlyGirl, was a private pilot and frequently shared her aviation experiences on her channel. Her content included flying excursions, often with her father. In addition to her YouTube presence, Blalock was a luxury home builder and designer.
The crash site, located in a remote area, presented challenges for emergency responders. A neighbor reportedly witnessed the plane’s descent and attempted a rescue, but the victims had already died from their injuries. The bodies of Jenny and James Blalock were discovered outside the wreckage.
The crash follows a close call experienced by Blalock a month prior, where she encountered an “aircraft malfunction” at 4,000 feet.
In a video posted to her YouTube channel, Blalock was filmed asking her flight instructor if they would make it after the plane’s battery died mid-flight. She also discovered loose screws on the plane’s regulator. Despite the emergency, she managed to land the aircraft safely.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the fatal crash.
Brett Thees, Jenny Blalock’s partner, expressed on Facebook that Jenny and her father were best friends who did everything together. The Blalock family conveyed comfort in the knowledge that the father-daughter duo were together when they passed.