‘I’m too far away’: 5 Canadians dead in plane that crashed near downtown Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. –
The pilot of a single-engine plane that crashed near downtown Nashville told air traffic controllers he could see the runway they were clearing for an emergency landing. But he said he couldn’t reach it.
“I’m going to be landing — I don’t know where!” the pilot said before the plane crashed alongside Interstate 40, killing all five people aboard.
The pilot had another adult and three children on board, U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigator Aaron McCarter said at a Tuesday news conference. He said the five were Canadian citizens and the agency is working with the Canadian government to determine their identities.
He said it is too early to know what caused the crash. Investigators do not yet know the pilot’s qualifications or how many flight hours he had, but his experience is one of the things they will be investigating.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has assigned a representative to the crash investigation being led by U.S. authorities, board spokesman Liam MacDonald said in an email.
The pilot radioed air traffic controllers at around 7:40 p.m. Monday reporting that his engine had shut down. He said he had overflown John C. Tune airport, just west of downtown, at 2,500 feet and had circled around in an attempt to land, according to a recording of their radio transmissions.
They cleared runway two at the airport, and urged him to glide the plane down. But the plane had already descended to 1,600 feet (488 metres) by then, he said.
“I’m too far away. I’m not going to make it,” he said.
That was the last they heard from the plane, which dropped off radar as it lost altitude.
The plane crashed as Matthew Wiser was driving on the interstate, and he posted a photo of the fiery wreckage on social media.
“I saw an airplane essentially crash out of the sky, fall out of the sky, and hit the ground at around a 45 degree angle,” Wiser said in a phone interview. “When it hit the ground, there was a 30 to 40 foot explosion of fire. And all of the traffic on the interstate stopped and kind of processed what they saw.”
Air traffic controllers then directed a helicopter crew to survey the approach to the airport in search of the plane, while keeping other aircraft out of the emergency area. Within minutes, a flood of emergency vehicles was speeding to the scene, Wiser said.
They discovered that the plane burst into flames in the grass, just off the highway and behind a Costco on the city’s westside, about three miles (4.8 kilometres) south of the general aviation airport.
There were no injuries to drivers on the interstate, Nashville Fire Department spokesperson Kendra Loney said. Authorities said no vehicles or buildings on the ground were damaged.
The plane referred to in the radio recordings was a Piper PA-32R, made in 1978 and based in Ontario, according to Canada’s civil aircraft registry.
The flight originated in Ontario and made stops along the way that were likely to gas up, including in Erie, Penn., and Mount Sterling, Ky., McCarter said. Before the pilot radioed in the emergency, the plane had been on a normal flight track with no mechanical irregularities reported while it flew in from the Kentucky airport, McCarter added.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. McCarter said they packed up the wreckage for transport to a facility in Springfield, Tenn., where the plane will be reassembled.
Investigators do not know why the pilot decided to circle the airport before the crash, he said. He mentioned that the plane’s approach was perpendicular to the interstate when it hit the ground.
The NTSB will have a preliminary report out in about 10 days. The full report will take about nine months.
——
Associated Press contributors include Sarah Brumfield in Silver Spring, Md., and Julie Walker in New York. With files from The Canadian Press.
View original article here Source
Utopia Bedding Bed Pillows for Sleeping Queen Size (Grey), Set of 2, Cooling Hotel Quality, Gusseted Pillow for Back, Stomach or Side Sleepers
$39.99 (as of April 25, 2024 10:34 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Straw for Sports and Travel, BPA-Free, 32oz, Dreamy Field
$42.99 (as of April 25, 2024 10:34 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Royale Velour Toilet Paper, 12 Equal 24 Rolls, 142 Bathroom Tissues per roll
$8.97 (as of April 25, 2024 10:34 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Promover Wide Leg Pants for Women Yoga Pants with Pockets Loose Lounge Sweatpants Petite/Regular/Tall
$23.00 (as of April 25, 2024 10:34 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Amazon Basics Neoprene Coated Dumbbell Hand Weight Set
$23.38 (as of April 25, 2024 10:34 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Gritin Resistance Bands, [Set of 5] Skin-Friendly Resistance Fitness Exercise Loop Bands with 5 Different Resistance Levels - Free Carrying Case Included - Ideal for Home, Gym, Yoga, Training
$12.74 (as of April 25, 2024 10:34 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Queen Size 4 Piece Sheet Set - Comfy Breathable & Cooling Sheets - Hotel Luxury Bed Sheets for Women & Men - Deep Pockets, Easy-Fit, Extra Soft & Wrinkle Free Sheets - White Oeko-Tex Bed Sheet Set
$29.99 (as of April 25, 2024 10:34 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Samsung Galaxy A03s 32GB - Black (Renewed)
$109.95 (as of April 25, 2024 10:34 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Pure Protein Bars - Nutritious, Gluten Free protein bar, made with Whey protein blend - low sugar, protein snack. Deliciously satisfying. Chocolate Peanut Butter (Pack of 6) (Packaging May Vary)
$11.19 (as of April 25, 2024 10:34 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)