Plane crashes near MTSU in Murfreesboro

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — A small aircraft went down in Murfreesboro Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft— a Beechcraft Bonanza A36— crashed in a wooded area at approximately 11:20 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10.

According to the Murfreesboro Police Department, the small aircraft went down in the area of Clark Boulevard.

The NTSB said the plane, which originated Douglas, Georgia, was sustainably damaged during an attempted landing after losing engine power.

Authorities said two male passengers were taken to Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford in Murfreesboro, while a female passenger was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. All three individuals on board are listed in stable condition, per Murfreesboro police.

Larry Flowers, public information officer for the Murfreesboro Police Department, said a preliminary investigation indicates that the pilot was attempting to land in an open field, but ended up in a tree line.

“What’s important is the pilot had the forethought not to land the plane on this busy street or this residential and business area,” said Flowers. “He chose to try to make it to an empty field, but came short of the field and landed in a tree line. That tree line may have been one of the things that helped save them.” 

Flowers added that the aircraft was passing through Murfreesboro and the pilot called the airport before the plane went down.

“According to the investigation, we’re looking at a emergency landing that ended up in a crash landing,” he explained.

A spokesperson for Middle Tennessee State University told News 2 the aircraft is not connected to the university.

The FAA and NTSB is investigating the crash. No additional details were immediately provided.