Middle Tennessee authorities say 3 killed in small plane crash near Natchez Trace Parkway

Kirsten Fiscus and Jacob Beckwith, Nashville Tennessean
Updated ·2 min read

A small plane crashed in Williamson County killing all three aboard, according to county and federal officials.

Williamson County Chief Deputy Mark Elrod said during a Wednesday evening news conference that the plane left Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was headed to Louisville, Kentucky when it crashed at about noon. He did not name the victims.

Williamson County Chief Deputy Mark Elrod speaks during a press conference concerning a plane crash where three people were killed in Williamson County, Tenn., Wednesday, May 15, 2024. The plane departed from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was headed to Louisville, Kentucky when it crashed.
Williamson County Chief Deputy Mark Elrod speaks during a press conference concerning a plane crash where three people were killed in Williamson County, Tenn., Wednesday, May 15, 2024. The plane departed from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was headed to Louisville, Kentucky when it crashed.

"It does appear that the plane did break up in the air," Elrod said, adding that the debris field appears to be about a half-mile long.

Williamson County Fire/Rescue posted on Facebook that the crash happened in the area of Bending Chestnut Road and Davis Hollow Road near the Natchez Trace Parkway, about 50 miles southwest of Nashville.

Williamson County Fire and Rescue Chief, Bob Galoppi, answers questions during a press conference concerning a plane crash where three people were killed in Williamson County, Tenn., Wednesday, May 15, 2024. The plane departed from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was headed to Louisville, Kentucky when it crashed.
Williamson County Fire and Rescue Chief, Bob Galoppi, answers questions during a press conference concerning a plane crash where three people were killed in Williamson County, Tenn., Wednesday, May 15, 2024. The plane departed from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was headed to Louisville, Kentucky when it crashed.

In a brief news conference before 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jill Burgin, spokesperson for the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency, said there was a call to 911 at about 12:05 p.m.

"He just said a possible plane crash, but he didn't have a lot of details," Burgin said of the caller. "He just heard a sound and saw debris so that's all the information he gave."

A helicopter takes flight nearby where first responders are gathered following a plane crash where three people were killed in Williamson County, Tenn., Wednesday, May 15, 2024. The plane departed from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was headed to Louisville, Kentucky when it crashed.
A helicopter takes flight nearby where first responders are gathered following a plane crash where three people were killed in Williamson County, Tenn., Wednesday, May 15, 2024. The plane departed from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was headed to Louisville, Kentucky when it crashed.

The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, that the plane was a Beech V35 and that it was investigating the crash of the single-engine aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration said their office and the NTSB will investigate.

The Williamson County Sheriff's Office asked residents to avoid the area while crews work the scene.

Williamson County Fire/Rescue said they've closed the following roads:

  • Bending Chestnut Road at Natchez Trace Parkway

  • 5900 block of Davis Hollow Road

  • 5800 block of Bending Chestnut Road

"If you live in the area and find debris on your property, please contact the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office at 615-790-5550," the fire department said.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Three die in small plane crash near Natchez Trace Parkway in Tennessee