News 2 obtained 911 calls made by two people desperate to get help to the pilot.
CHEATHAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Investigators are still working to learn more about how an airplane crashed into the Cumberland River in Cheatham County on Monday afternoon, killing the pilot.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the pilot took off from Wifferdill Airport in Chapmansboro at 1:45 p.m. Fifteen minutes later, 911 calls reported a plane crash in the Cumberland River near Eagle Pass Trail Head. The NTSB has taken over the investigation involving the crash.
One 911 caller said the plane went into a spin before crashing. News 2 obtained 911 calls made by two people desperate to get help to the pilot.
“I just watched an airplane kind of going into a spin and then heard what sounded like an impact, and I can’t hear the airplane engine anymore,” one caller said. “They do aerobatics back here sometimes, and this plane was definitely in a spin, and then we heard a big crunch.”
“Looks like it is upside down,” another caller said. “Looks like the wheels are up now.”
According to NTSB, the aircraft was an experimental single-engine aircraft with a Lycoming propeller engine. Investigators have been on the scene since Monday afternoon, working to determine what caused the crash and why.
“[Investigators are] looking at flight control continuity, looking at the engine, making sure and determining whether or not the airplane engine was functional, looking at the weather conditions involved at the time of the accident, looking at the pilot’s qualifications, the type of flying that was being conducted,” Senior Air Safety Investigator from NTSB, Adam Gerhardt, explained. “Those are just standard areas that area of investigation would look into.”
Authorities have secured the equipment to pull the plane out of the river and have been working on the aircraft recovery process for hours.
“Right now, it looks like different floatation bags to float the airplane and then to use a boat to slowly pull the airplane down the river to a boat dock where it will be put on a trailer and moved out,” Gerhardt added. “That is going to be the best process to preserve that airplane.”
He added that all the evidence would be preserved despite having been submerged in water.
“There are many components that can withstand being in the water for a short period of time,” Gerhardt said. “We will do our best to determine whether or not there were any mechanical malfunctions.”
Once the plane is pulled out, the investigation is anticipated to take up to 12 months to complete. If you have information regarding the crash, you are asked to email witness@ntsb.gov or visit their website.