Cause of July Chattanooga plane crash revealed
UPDATE (October 6):
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has revealed what caused the plane crash in Chattanooga from July 2023. News 12 obtained the aviation investigation report that explained the details of the crash. The report was released on October 5, 2023.
The airplane was climbing, with a pilot and flight instructor inside, when the cabin door opened. The flight instructor attempted to close the door but could not.
Then the pilot returned to the airport to land. The report said the pilot was distracted, causing the plane to fly too low.
The airplane hit several lights while approaching the runway. This caused damage to the wings and empennage (rear) of the plane.
The pilot said there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
EARLIER (July 26):
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A small plane crashed at the end of a runway at the Chattanooga Airport this morning.
Officials say shortly after 10 this morning they received a report of a single engine plane crash on the north end of Runway Two.
That’s when firefighters and other first responders sprang into action.
The Chattanooga and Airport Fire Departments combined to respond to the crash Wednesday morning.
Courtesy of Chattanooga Fire Dept.
The Special Operations Coordinator, Terry Knowles, said, “We had 12 companies, special operations division along with our hazmat team, which is normal response for us.”
The plane was a Mooney M-20-R Ovation Single Engine Plane, as FAA records show the plane was manufactured in 1999.
Their records show that it is registered in Hamilton County and was recently re-certified in February of this year.
Flight logs show that the plane had previously taken a trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama in the past week, flying initially from Lafayette in Walker County to Gulf Shores before that plane returned to Chattanooga over the weekend.
This morning, logs show that the plane took off from the Chattanooga Airport, made a circular pattern before returning to the airport, when the crash took place.
When firefighters arrived on scene, they say that they found the men inside the plane and worked to free them from the wreckage.
Knowles said, “No smoke, no fire. We checked for fuel leaks, there were no fuel leaks. We secured the scene for the airport, and then we got back into service.”
The primary runway had to be temporarily closed for a half hour while responders tended to the scene.
Officials say it did not have too much of an impact on other travelers.
The President and CEO of the Chattanooga Airport, Terry Hart, said, “I saw a couple land after we reopened the runway and I think there was a departing aircraft that held for a little bit before it left, but I don’t think there was really any problems as such regarding the runways being closed.”
Officials were happy with the quick response to the incident as they held an emergency drill in April.
Hart said, “Obviously we are a small organization, we rely heavily on our supporting agencies here.”
The two men in the plane were taken to a hospital by Hamilton County EMS.
Their condition has not been released but officials did say they were alert when they reached them.
The NTSB has told News 12 they have not begun an investigation but will be communicating with the FAA on the need for one.
