New information has emerged regarding the devastating plane crash that took the lives of a Grammy-winning country songwriter and his family.
Brett James, his wife Melody Carole, age 59, and his stepdaughter Meryl Wilson, age 28, were aboard a small plane heading to North Carolina when the tragedy occurred on September 18.
James was piloting the Cirrus SR22T, traveling towards Macon County Airport in North Carolina.
A report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has provided insights into the final moments before the Cirrus SR22T crashed.
Investigators revealed that James, who was operating the aircraft, had “requested a visual approach” as the 57-year-old prepared to land.
He intended to execute a 360-degree turn before landing, but during this maneuver, the plane entered a “tightening spiral” and crashed into a nearby field. No one survived the crash.
The flight began earlier that day when the three departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville, Tennessee, at 12:41 PM. A little over two hours later, around 2:48 PM, James communicated with air traffic control, stating he was at an altitude of 6,800 feet and planned to circle before landing at Macon County.
Sadly, that was the last communication from him.
Security footage and witness testimonies depict the harrowing moments before the crash. As the plane descended, it started to rock side-to-side, flipped upside down, and crashed behind a line of trees.
Eyewitnesses recounted seeing the plane flying low over a school playground before spiraling downwards.
The NTSB confirmed there was no evidence of engine failure, and the wreckage will continue to be examined as the investigation progresses.
This tragedy occurred days after the family celebrated Wilson’s 28th birthday—a poignant detail shared in a post on Melody Carole’s Instagram.
James was a notable figure in the country music industry, most famous for co-writing “Jesus, Take the Wheel” with Carrie Underwood, a song that earned him a Grammy award.
In response to the loss, Underwood posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, stating: “Some things are just unfathomable. The loss of Brett James to his family, friends and our music community is too great to put into words.”
She reminisced about his kindness, talent, and faith, adding: “Brett loved the Lord. Which is the only comfort we can hold on to now.”