UPDATED - (WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn.) In Williamson County, an airplane crashed on Old Smyrna Road Tuesday morning. The deceased pilot has been identified as 62-year-old Dr. Christopher Alex Wiltcher of Gallatin, Tennessee. Dr. Wiltcher was an OBGYN. According to information from the FAA, it was further confirmed that he was flying alone on Tuesday (10/18/22).
The preliminary accident report from the FAA indicates the small plane experienced engine issues and crashed in a residential area of Brentwood, Tennessee. Wiltcher was flying a single engine Piper PA-32 that was manufactured in 1969.
The crash occurred as the airplane headed towards the Fayetteville Municipal Airport in Fayetteville, Tennessee. Evidently, the airplane was coming from the Springfield-Robertson County Airport in Springfield, Tennessee. As the plane neared the ground, it took-out multiple power lines, causing an electrical outage in homes throughout the area of Old Smyrna Road, which travels between Highway 252 and Edmondson Pike in Williamson County.
Prior to crashing in the Brentwood area at about 7:30 in the morning, the pilot radioed for help - requesting to land at the John C. Tune Airport and later asking to land at the Nashville International Airport in Davidson County. Dr. Wiltcher crashed when attempting to divert to the Nashville International Airport.
Although radio transmissions were staticky, it is thought that the pilot told Air Traffic Control to tell his family that he loves them. Shortly after that statement was made, communication ended.
Brentwood Police were the first on the scene, followed by other emergency responders. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the wreckage to further pinpoint exactly what went wrong.
More on the Aircraft - The Piper PA-32 is a small single-engine airplane that was manufactured in the U.S. between the years of 1965 and 2007. Most of the models carry five passengers, but some are configured to carry six. With fixed landing gear and a gross weight of 3,400-pounds, the plane can fly a maximum of 174 miles per hour and typically cruises at a speed of 168 MPH.
More WGNS NEWS Headlines:
- The Banning Books Battle Faced by Local Libraries and Nationwide
- VA Medical Center in Murfreesboro to Host Large Hiring Fair in Search of Nursing Staff
- Homeless Man in Murfreesboro Says Driver of BMW Took His Backpack that Held his Bible and Change of Clothes
- UPDATE: Shooting in Rutherford County Leaves One Dead - Suspect Arrested
- Audio Commentary: Emoji's and the distress that some generations have over the cute little faces
- More Details on the October 14th Shooting in Smyrna, Tennessee
