Polk County, TN - A tragic plane crash in Polk County on Friday (4/11/2025) afternoon claimed the lives of three individuals, including the father and grandparents of Middle Tennessee State University student golfer Carter Maneth, according to the university.

The crash occurred around 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time in the Cherokee National Forest, prompting multiple agencies to respond to the scene in the 1700 block of Tellico Reliance Road in an urgent search effort.

The Tri-State Mutual Aid Association reported that McGee Tyson Air Traffic Control notified Polk County 911 when the small aircraft disappeared from radar. The family was en route to the Tar Heel Intercollegiate golf tournament when the plane went down.

Rescue personnel entered the wooded area near the aircraft's last known location. An hour and a half later (4:54PM EDT), officials confirmed that rescue crews had discovered the wreckage and the bodies of three deceased individuals. 

Middle Tennessee Athletics expressed its grief over the tragedy, stating, “Our hearts are with Carter and his loved ones during this unimaginable time. We are keeping him and his family in our thoughts and prayers, and we ask the Blue Raider community to do the same.”

The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the crash, in an effort to determine the cause of the accident.