The aircraft, a single-engine Cirrus SR22T, went down Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, around 3 p.m. in Franklin, a town in Western North Carolina, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

"Grammy-winning songwriter reportedly among 3 dead after small plane from Nashville crashes near North Carolina elementary school. FlightAware data shows the the Cirrus SR22T plane took off from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville at 12:41 p.m. (CDT) before it crashed in North Carolina."

It is reported the plane was registered to Brett James [Cornelius], American singer-songwriter and Hall of Fame member, known for hit songs like "Jesus Take the Wheel" and "When the Sun Goes Down." He was 57.

At least two other Cirrus planes have crashed in the past 4 years. Or more... On July 7, 2025, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus SR22T, N5656M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Sanford, North Carolina. The private pilot and three passengers were fatally injured.

Cirrus has a training facility at the Tyson McGhee Airport.