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NTSB releases new details on plane crash near Powell that killed Michigan CEO

The NTSB said the pilot made a mayday call shortly after taking off from McGhee Tyson Airport. Witnesses said they saw the plane "falling out of the sky, twirling."

POWELL, Tenn. — Federal investigators released a new report on a deadly plane crash near Powell that killed a Michigan CEO in April.

On April 12, a six-seater Piper aircraft crashed in the woods near a road in the Claxton area of Anderson County. The pilot, identified as James Scarlett, was the only person aboard the plane and died in the crash.  The Federal Aviation Administration said it did not have a valid operating certificate on file for him, and neither did the National Transportation Safety Board's report.

Scarlett was the CEO of Scarlett Inc., a machinery company in Grand Rapids, Michigan and flew commercially, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. 

"James was not only a remarkable leader but also a cherished friend and mentor to many within our company and beyond. His absence will be deeply felt throughout the industry," the company said. "Thank you for your understanding and support during this difficult time."

It is with heavy hearts that we share the devastating news of the passing of our CEO, James Scarlett, in a fatal plane...

Posted by Scarlett Inc. on Monday, April 15, 2024

According to the NTSB's preliminary crash report, Scarlett's wife said he was returning home to Michigan from St. Petersburg, Florida. The NTSB said he took off from Florida around 11:30 a.m. on April 12 and landed in Knoxville around 3:30 p.m. for a quick refuel.

The NTSB said he took off again from McGhee Tyson Airport around 4:15 p.m. on a path to Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids. 

As the plane was climbing to 10,000 feet, Scarlett reported his plane was "accumulating moisture" to air traffic controllers. Not long after he called in a mayday as the plane began losing altitude.

The NTSB report said his flight track data showed him making an abrupt left turn before spiraling down to the ground at a rapid speed.

A witness on the ground said he heard what sounded like a propeller-driven aircraft before the noise resembled a "car over-revving."

"He looked up and observed an airplane 'falling out of the sky, twirling' and descending below the clouds until he lost sight of it. Subsequently, he heard 'parts hitting the ground' nearby," the NTSB report said.

Deputies with the Anderson County Sheriff's Office responded to the crash along with emergency medical crews and firefighters. A Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter also responded to the crash, according to ACSO.

A spokesperson for ACSO said emergency crews received calls of plane parts on Tillery Road near Claxton that had reportedly fallen into the yards of homes. According to deputies, parts were also found in the Ashley Lane area along with luggage. 

The NTSB said the plane was substantially damaged and wreckage was scattered over a 2-mile area.

The investigation into what caused the plane to crash is ongoing. 

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