Federal officials released new information on Wednesday about an April plane crash near Sparta that claimed the lives of three people. According to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a Mooney M20 crashed around 11:47 a.m. on April 26th, about 1.5 nautical miles from runway 4 at the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport. The crash killed the pilot, Jonathan Braun, and passengers Dylan Clay Davis and his wife, Kelsie Lynn Davis, both from Alabama. Braun was making a return trip to White County from Alabama when a nearby resident reported hearing engine trouble just before the crash. The aircraft clipped trees and crashed into a creek. The NTSB found evidence of a catastrophic engine failure, including a broken connecting rod in the No. 3 cylinder. Several components were recovered and retained for further analysis.
NTSB Releases Details in April Plane Crash That Killed Three in White County
Jun 19, 2025 | 11:02 AM