Pilot killed when small plane crashes in Williamson County
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WZTV) — Williamson County officials say one person was killed in a small plane crash Thursday afternoon.
The FAA said a ZODIAC 601XL, amateur-built aircraft collided with trees and crashed in a field in Thompson Station at about 1 p.m.
Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Long said the plane crashed in the driveway of a home along Casparis Road. There was only one person on the plane, that crashed about 40 to 50 yards from the home.
A witness, Trisha Reed, heard the plane fly over her house and slam into the ground.
“I heard the plane coming over," Reed said. "You could hear the engine full blast. You didn’t hear it slow down or anything, but it sounded different because it was so low. I heard it hit the trees and hit the ground. You can hear the metal crunch together."
William Gray was outside when he heard the plane crash.
"The plane was still buzzing," Gray said. "It had an ignition key, and I turned it off. The man was still breathing when I got there. He was grunting. I cut the seat belt and raised him up. He was all slumped down in it."
Reed said people jumped into help after seeing the crash, but attempts to rescue the pilot were unsuccessful.
“It’s kind of shocking and very sad," Long said. "I feel for his family. Christmas will never be the same again for them."
“It’s a tragedy," Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Long said. "Anytime you have a fatality, it is a tragedy especially this time a year. When you have a loved one who’s not going to be able to be there with their family, it really strikes home to all of us."
The plane will be guarded until Friday morning when the NTSB plans to arrive to figure out what caused the aircraft to go down. Officials have not yet released the identity of the deceased pilot.
The FAA is investigating.
