Investigators combing through wreckage of deadly Nashville plane crash
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The investigation into Monday evening’s deadly plane crash in West Nashville digs deeper as the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) examines the wreckage.
The remnants of the plane are now in a hangar in Springfield, being combed over by the NTSB.
Here’s what we know from the NTSB’s on-site investigation on Tuesday: the flight, which originated in Ontario, Canada, made two stops to likely refuel and attempted a landing at John C. Tune airport in Nashville. Before landing, however, the pilot reported engine and power failure and crashed along Interstate 40, killing all five people, including three children, aboard the flight.
Now, NTSB officials said their mission is to find what exactly failed and work to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
2 adults, 3 children dead after small plane crashes off I-40 in West Nashville
Aaron McCarter, an air safety investigator with the NTSB, said the first order of business is reverse engineering — laying out the plane’s parts on the hangar floor and assembling them in their relative position. He said they’ll move through the fuel system and the engine to determine what caused the loss of power.
McCarter said they’re meeting with the manufacturer of both the engine and the airframe Wednesday, and the manufacturer of the propeller Thursday or Friday.
He said they’re considering other factors, as well, including controls, pumps, and plugs.
McCarter said a preliminary report can be expected in about 10 days, followed by a factual report in about six months, and a full analysis and probable cause within a year.
“It doesn’t stop there,” said McCarter. “We have the option of putting forth recommendations or safety changes and that’s where the real payoff begins because that’s the stuff that prevents the accidents from occurring in the future.”
AUDIO: Air traffic control audio details moments before deadly Nashville plane crash
After a call for witness evidence, McCarter said his inbox is consistently receiving new pieces of information.
“I’m very, very pleased,” said McCarter. “It was pinging all through the night and this morning.”
He’s looking a step beyond photos.
“I’m also very, very interested in what people heard,” said McCabe. “Some of the accidents I’ve worked on in the past, video tells us kind of what we already know sometimes, but it’s audio that is hugely important.”
If you saw the crash, you should contact the NTSB via email at Witness@NTSB.Gov.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
