NTSB releases preliminary report about plane crash in Cherokee National Forest that killed MTSU golfer's family members

Yahoo

09-05-2025

POLK COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — New details have been released about the circumstances surrounding last month's plane crash in East Tennessee that killed three relatives of a Middle Tennessee State University golfer.
The Federal Aviation Administration previously said the crash took place in the Cherokee National Forest near the Polk County community of Reliance around 4:20 p.m. ET on April 11.
However, according to the preliminary report the National Transportation Safety Board released this week, the Mooney M20F 'sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident' near Reliance at approximately 2:02 p.m. ET on April 11. The pilot, pilot-rated passenger, and passenger died in the crash.
MTSU officials announced last month that the father and grandparents of men's golfer Carter Maneth were on the plane, heading to the Tar Heel Intercollegiate, when it crashed.
'Our hearts are with Carter and his loved ones during this unimaginable time,' Middle Tennessee Athletics said in a statement on April 12. 'We are keeping him and his family in our thoughts and prayers, and we ask the Blue Raider community to do the same.'
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Based on preliminary ADS-B data, the NTSB said the plane left Lovell Field Airport — better known as the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) — for a personal flight around 1:45 p.m. ET and was heading for Burlington Alamance Regional Airport (BUY) in North Carolina, but it turned to the northeast towards Ocoee-Cherokee National Forest a short time later. Then, approximately 13 minutes after departure, radar contact was lost, so an alert notice (ALNOT) was issued about three minutes later.
According to officials, witnesses at Chilhowee Glider Port (9A2) in Benton — which is about five nautical miles southwest of the crash site — reported encountering strong, gusting winds about one hour prior to the incident.
'They stated that they were compelled to park multiple aircraft and observed debris and garbage blowing across their runway,' the NTSB said. 'Additionally, they stated that a 'weather cell' with precipitation was observed in the general vicinity of the accident site about the time of the accident.'
Officials said the plane 'impacted heavily wooded terrain' approximately 38 nautical miles northeast of CHA, about 1,760 feet above mean sea level, adding that the first point of contact was identified by broken pine limbs and tree strikes. The wreckage reportedly came to rest on sloped terrain, between white pine trees, and was discovered by local first responders roughly two hours after the ALNOT was issued.
According to the NTSB, the engine, propeller, both wings, fuselage, and empennage were found within the main wreckage, which spanned about 60 feet by 30 feet.
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'The fuselage and cockpit area were fragmented. The left wing was separated at the wing root and came to rest about five ft from the fuselage. The right wing came to rest against a tree above the engine and propeller, which were embedded within terrain,' officials stated. 'Both elevators were separated from the horizontal stabilizers and located within about 400 ft of the main wreckage. The left elevator was torn into 2 pieces, and the right was torn into 3 pieces.'
The NTSB said the wreckage was recovered and brought to a secure facility for further examination. Officials noted in their report from Wednesday, May 7 that the information is preliminary and subject to change.
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