JACKSBORO, Tenn. — A man is dead after a small plane crashed near the Campbell County Airport on Monday.
According to the Campbell County Emergency Management Agency, a single-engine aircraft crashed around 1:15 p.m. Monday "just outside the airport." The pilot was reportedly the only person onboard.
The family said the pilot, James Cole, died in the crash. His brother, Daryl Cole, said officials notified them Monday afternoon. Authorities have not publicly confirmed his identity yet.
"Man, I sure do miss him," Daryl said. "Already, I miss him. It sure is heartbreaking."
He said he went straight to the airport after learning about the crash.
"It's just so sad that I have to say goodbye to him," he said. "I just wish he hadn't bought the plane."
James was one of 12 siblings, and Daryl said he was a skilled pilot who loved to be in the sky whenever he had the chance.
"I think he was the most rambunctious of every one of us. He sure was loved a lot by a lot of people," Daryl said. "He just loved flying. If there was ever anything he could do, it had to do with flying. It was hard to get him to do anything else. Flying was his life. He loved it more than just about anything."
The EMA said crews were securing the scene, saying they have contacted the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Campbell County Sheriff's Office said its deputies were working the scene. Mayor E.L. Morton said the flight had taken off from the airport before the crash.
This story is developing and will be updated.