An Alabama husband and wife were among three people killed in a weekend plane crash in middle Tennessee.
Kelsie Lynn Davis, 32, and Dylan Clay Davis, 31, were the only two passengers aboard the single-engine Mooney M20TN that went down Saturday during approach to Upper Cumberland Regional Airport in White County, Tenn.
Pilot Jonathan Braun, who was based in Tennessee, and the Davises were pronounced dead on the scene, said airport Director Dean Selby.
Selby said he was notified by 911 at 11:50 a.m. Saturday that there was a possible aircraft crash. He immediately went to the airport and launched a search.
According to FlightAware, the plane departed the Shelby County Airport at 10:22 a.m. Saturday. The Davises are believed to have lived in the Montevallo area.
Multiple emergency service agencies began looking for the downed plane, starting with the plane’s last known location. A pilot also volunteered to search by air.
“We found the crash site within 20 to 25 minutes,” Selby said. “We had first responders there.”
The crash site was in a remote area off Almyra Road, about one mile south of the airport. The plane came to a final rest in a creek in a tree line, Selby said.
“They were coming from Alabama to here,” he said. He didn’t know additional details about the couple’s travel plans.
All three victims were pronounced dead on the scene.
Selby said it was an extensive recovery effort.
“It was a long effort,” Selby said, “and it involved a lot of different agencies.”
Selby said FAA investigators were on the ground within two hours of the crash. NTSB officials arrived Sunday morning and were continuing their investigation on Monday.
“Aviation is a small community, and I feel for the families of all of them,” Selby said. “It’s something hard to deal with. It’s a very traumatic event.”
Efforts to reach officials at the Shelby County Airport were unsuccessful.
The League of Credit Unions & Affiliates said in a Monday Facebook post that Kelsie Davis was a senior compliance consultant and regulatory analyst
“Among so many wonderful attributes, we will remember Kelsie for her warmth, humor, creativity, and expertise,” the agency wrote.
“She was a supportive and caring friend and team member who will be deeply missed.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, team members, and the many lives she touched.”