On Monday, March 4, 2024, a single-engine plane crashed near Interstate 40, close to John C. Tune Airport in Nashville, Tennessee. All five passengers aboard the aircraft were killed in the incident.
The Metro Nashville Police Department reported that the pilot contacted John C. Tune Airport around 7:40 p.m., signaling engine trouble and requesting permission for an emergency landing. Despite receiving clearance, the pilot indicated that the aircraft could not reach the airport. The plane, a single-engine Piper PA-32RT-300T, burst into flames in a grassy area behind a Costco store, three miles away from the airport.
The plane originated in Ontario, Canada, with stops in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, leaving Mount Sterling at approximately 7:19 p.m.
Don Aaron, a spokesman for the Metro Nashville Police Department, confirmed the deaths stating, “It appears that everyone on board perished.” Remarkably, there were no injuries among people on the ground, including drivers on the nearby interstate.
Kendra Loney, representing the Nashville Fire Department, confirmed that the crash did not damage any vehicles or buildings. Emergency services secured the site, collecting wreckage to aid in the investigation.
During a Tuesday press conference at the crash site, Aaron McCarter, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), revealed that the single-engine airplane was carrying three children and two adults. All the passengers were Canadian nationals. While the victims have yet to be identified, it was disclosed that the aircraft was registered in Canada in July 2023.
The NTSB’s investigation will focus on determining the identity of the pilot, their qualifications, and the extent of their flying experience, including the number of flight hours logged.
McCarter acknowledged that investigating incidents involving children is particularly challenging. However, he emphasized the importance of understanding the circumstances that led to the crash.
Responding to the crash, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell praised the prompt action of emergency responders and offered his condolences to the families and friends of the victims. The Tennessee Department of Transportation effectively managed traffic disruptions, implementing diversions to facilitate a thorough investigation and ensure public safety.
Video footage from witnesses shows the aircraft consumed by fire and smoke, with images released by the police depicting the plane’s twisted wreckage amidst emergency crews on a grass-covered roadside.
Live traffic camera footage revealed an extensive response from emergency services, halting all eastbound traffic near the accident scene and causing significant traffic congestion on the closed segment of I-40 East.