SEYMOUR, Tenn. — UPDATE (June 20): The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a small Cessna 172 Skyhawk aircraft crashed into a field near Seymour Air Park on Saturday evening, according to the Blount County Sheriff's Office.
The Seymour Volunteer Fire Department arrived at the scene around 8:38 p.m. They saw the plane land in a cow pasture with no fire present, according to John Linsenbigler with SVFD.
Three people were on board and all three managed to get out of the plane on their own, SVFD said. They all had minor injuries, with one being taken to a hospital for minor head injuries.
BCSO's incident report identified the victims as John Burt III, 74, Eleanor Doyle, 18, and Shawn Doyle, 62. The report said Burt was a pilot instructor and Eleanor Doyle was a student.
According to the BCSO and the FAA, the plane crashed as it was trying to take off. The FAA said the reason behind the crash is unknown at this time.
Deputies said Burt had trouble knowing what day or year it was after the crash when asked by medical crews, so they took him immediately to UT Medical Center. The Doyles both refused medical treatment at the scene and left in their own vehicle, according to deputies.
The plane was leaking fuel and SVFD worked with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency to help contain the crash and clean up, SVFD said.
According to SVFD, no cows were harmed. The BCSO report said a metal cattle feeder valued at $275 may have been damaged as a result of the crash.