N242re Aviation Accident 2025-04-26: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 10:00, 7 May 2025

Fatal Accident (3) - Advanced Avionics LLC Mooney M20TN Acclaim, N242RE, SW of Upper Cumberland Regional Airport (SRB/KSRB), Sparta, TN, April 25, 2025.

Interactive Map

Accident Information


Approx. Accident Location	Aircraft Fatalities	Ground Fatalities	Injured	ASN Entry
36°1'40.80"N, 85°33'14.40"W	3	0	0	Aviation Safety Network

Aircraft Information


Type	Operator	Registration	Serial Number	Manufacture Date
Mooney M20TN Acclaim	Advanced Avionics LLC	N242RE	31-0020	2007






Added 2025-04-27:

YouTube Accident Related Video(s)

ASX Accident Report

A Mooney M20TN Acclaim, registration N242RE and operated privately by Advanced Avionics LLC, was involved in a fatal accident on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The aircraft departed from Alabaster-Shelby County Airport (KEET) in Alabama en route to Upper Cumberland Regional Airport (KSRB) in Sparta, Tennessee. At approximately 11:47 a.m. local time, during the approach phase of flight near its destination, the aircraft impacted terrain approximately one mile south of the Sparta-White County Airport, TN (KSRB), in the vicinity of Almyra Road and Howell Cemetery Road. Emergency crews from multiple agencies responded to the crash site, and confirmation was provided that all three occupants aboard the aircraft sustained fatal injuries.

According to witness accounts, the aircraft descended rapidly and struck a creek bank in a rural area, resulting in substantial structural damage to the airframe. Weather conditions at the time were reported as clear, though no preliminary indication of mechanical failure or pilot incapacitation has been officially released. Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation, with the FAA arriving on site the same afternoon and the NTSB en route later in the day to oversee detailed recovery and analysis operations. Local authorities advised residents to avoid the crash vicinity to facilitate the investigation and recovery activities.

The reasons behind the crash remain under investigation as of this writing. The aircraft, manufactured in 2007, was considered a high-performance single-engine model capable of fast cruise speeds and extended range. Investigators are expected to focus on several potential factors, including but not limited to pilot experience, maintenance records, mechanical integrity, and possible spatial disorientation during the approach. The aircraft's final recorded position data and impact site are consistent with a loss of control event during final approach or short final, although official findings will be released following the completion of the investigation.

Update 2025-04-27:

The three individuals who were fatally injured in the crash have been identified as Jonathan Braun, the pilot from Middle Tennessee; Dylan Clay Davis, a male passenger from Alabama; and Kelsie Lynn Davis, the wife of Dylan Clay Davis. Witnesses reported that the aircraft descended into a field, impacting a creek bank near Almyra Road. Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have been notified and are investigating the accident. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. - Nick Beres NC5

This page will be updated as more information becomes available.

Tracking and Social Media

Flight Tracking: Flightradar24, FlightAware, ADS-B Exchange
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 '''Fatal Accident (3) - Advanced Avionics LLC Mooney M20TN Acclaim, N242RE, SW of Upper Cumberland Regional Airport (SRB/KSRB), Sparta, TN,  April 25, 2025.'''
 == Interactive Map ==
-<html><iframe src="https://wiki.alsresume.com/maps/36964.html" width="800" height="450" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></html>
+<html><iframe src="https://wiki.alsresume.com/maps/n242re.html" width="800" height="450" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></html>
 == Accident Information ==
 {| class="wikitable"
 |+
-! Approx. Avalanche Location
+! Approx. Accident Location
 ! Aircraft Fatalities
 ! Ground Fatalities
@@ Line 18: / Line 19: @@
 | [https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/502469 Aviation Safety Network]
 |}
 == Aircraft Information ==
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 ! Manufacture Date
 |-
-| [https://wiki.alsresume.com/index.php?title=De_Havilland_Canada_DHC-6_Twin_Otter Viking DHC-6-400 Twin Otter]
+| [https://wiki.alsresume.com/index.php?title=Mooney_M20 Mooney M20TN Acclaim]
-| Royal Thai Police Wing
+| [https://www.bizapedia.com/tn/advanced-avionics-llc.html Advanced Avionics LLC]
-| 36964
+| [https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=242re N242RE]
-| 964
+| [https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=242re 31-0020]
-| 2017
+| [https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=242re 2007]
 |}
 <table>
 <tr>
-<td>[[File:36964a.jpg|250px|Royal Thai Police Wing Viking DHC-6-400 Twin Otter, 36964]]</td>
+<td>[[File:N242REd.jpg|250px]]</td>
-<td>[[File:36964b.jpg|250px|Royal Thai Police Wing Viking DHC-6-400 Twin Otter, 36964]]</td>
+<td>[[File:N242REc.jpg|250px]]</td>
-<td>[[File:36964h.jpg|250px|Royal Thai Police Wing Viking DHC-6-400 Twin Otter, 36964, just prior to impact]]</td>
+<td>[[File:N242REf.jpg|250px]]</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>[[File:N242REg.jpg|250px]]</td>
+<td>[[File:N242REb.jpg|250px]]</td>
+<td>[[File:N242REe.jpg|250px]]</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>[[File:N242REl.jpg|250px]]</td>
+<td>[[File:N242REk.jpg|250px]]</td>
+<td>[[File:N242REa.jpg|250px]]</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
-<td>[[File:36964g.jpg|250px|Royal Thai Police Wing Viking DHC-6-400 Twin Otter, 36964, post impact]]</td>
+<td>[[File:N242REh.jpg|250px]]</td>
-<td>[[File:36964f.jpg|250px|Royal Thai Police Wing Viking DHC-6-400 Twin Otter, 36964, post impact]]</td>
+<td>[[File:N242REp.jpg|250px]]</td>
-<td>[[File:36964c.jpg|250px|Royal Thai Police Wing Viking DHC-6-400 Twin Otter, 36964, responders on the beach attending to victims]]</td>
+<td>[[File:N242REo.jpg|250px]]</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
-<td>[[File:36964d.jpg|250px|Royal Thai Police Wing Viking DHC-6-400 Twin Otter, 36964, recovery efforts]]</td>
+<td>[[File:N242REj.jpg|250px]]</td>
-<td>[[File:36964e.jpg|250px|Royal Thai Police Wing Viking DHC-6-400 Twin Otter, 36964, recovery efforts]]</td>
+<td>[[File:N242REn.jpg|250px]]</td>
+<td>[[File:N242REm.jpg|250px]]</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td colspan="3" align="center" style="font-weight:regular; padding:4px;">''<u>Added 2025-04-27</u>:''</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>[[File:N242REq.jpg|250px]]</td>
+<td>[[File:N242REr.jpg|250px]]</td>
+<td>[[File:N242REs.jpg|250px]]</td>
 </tr>
 </table>
@@ Line 56: / Line 77: @@
 <table>
 <tr>
-<td><embedvideo service="youtube" dimensions="420x236" alignment="left">V2uVP2etZ7o</embedvideo></td><td><embedvideo service="youtube" dimensions="420x236" alignment="left">Eo7YmsJIhaw</embedvideo></td>
+<td><embedvideo service="youtube" dimensions="420x236" alignment="left">MikOezAdtfU</embedvideo></td>
-</tr>
-<tr>
-<td><embedvideo service="youtube" dimensions="420x236" alignment="left">Wrjw8X4mCqk</embedvideo></td><td><embedvideo service="youtube" dimensions="420x236" alignment="left">MikOezAdtfU</embedvideo></td>
 </tr>
 </table>
-== Other Video(s) ==
-<html>
-<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="420"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A Royal Thai Police DHC-6-400 Twin Otter crashed into the sea off Hua Hin, Thailand, killing all six on board.<br>The aircraft had just taken off from Hua Hin Airport (HHQ) for a test flight.<a href="https://t.co/MrVVK0OoO0">pic.twitter.com/MrVVK0OoO0</a></p>&mdash; Aviation Safety Network (ASN) (@AviationSafety) <a href="https://twitter.com/AviationSafety/status/1915659915009438053?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
-</html>
 <div style="display:block; max-width:800px; margin-left:0px; padding-left:0px; text-align:left; line-height:1.6; font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">
@@ Line 73: / Line 85: @@
 == ASX Accident Report ==
-On April 25, 2025, a Viking DHC-6-400 Twin Otter aircraft, registration 36964, operated by the Royal Thai Police Aviation Division, crashed into the Gulf of Thailand approximately 100 meters offshore from Cha-am Beach, Phetchaburi province. The aircraft, call sign RTP964, had departed from Hua Hin Airport at approximately 8:08 a.m. local time for a test flight following recent maintenance procedures. The aircraft was carrying six individuals: three pilots, two mechanics, and one aircraft engineer. Initial reports indicated all occupants perished at the scene, but later updates clarified that one pilot, Pol Capt Chaturong Wattanapaisarn, initially survived the impact and was transported to Hua Hin Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
+A Mooney M20TN Acclaim, registration N242RE and operated privately by Advanced Avionics LLC, was involved in a fatal accident on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The aircraft departed from Alabaster-Shelby County Airport (KEET) in Alabama en route to Upper Cumberland Regional Airport (KSRB) in Sparta, Tennessee. At approximately 11:47 a.m. local time, during the approach phase of flight near its destination, the aircraft impacted terrain approximately one mile south of the Sparta-White County Airport, TN (KSRB), in the vicinity of Almyra Road and Howell Cemetery Road. Emergency crews from multiple agencies responded to the crash site, and confirmation was provided that all three occupants aboard the aircraft sustained fatal injuries.
-The Twin Otter had been undergoing a post-maintenance test flight in preparation for a scheduled parachute training operation. According to preliminary findings, the aircraft lost directional stability shortly after takeoff. Witness video captured the aircraft climbing briefly before entering a steep nose-down attitude and crashing into the sea, breaking apart upon impact. Local meteorological conditions at the time were stable, with light winds and good visibility reported by Hua Hin Airport METAR observations. Despite the pilots’ efforts to regain control, the aircraft descended rapidly and submerged in shallow coastal waters close to a populated resort area.
-Authorities confirmed the deceased as members of the Royal Thai Police Wing, including senior pilots and technical maintenance personnel. The aircraft, manufactured by Viking Air in 2017, was part of a fleet delivered to Thailand in 2020. It was powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 turboprop engines and was known for its versatility and short takeoff and landing capabilities. Prior to the crash, the aircraft had been based at Don Mueang Airport and was typically deployed for a variety of tactical operations including medical evacuation, cargo transport, and search and rescue missions.
+According to witness accounts, the aircraft descended rapidly and struck a creek bank in a rural area, resulting in substantial structural damage to the airframe. Weather conditions at the time were reported as clear, though no preliminary indication of mechanical failure or pilot incapacitation has been officially released. Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation, with the FAA arriving on site the same afternoon and the NTSB en route later in the day to oversee detailed recovery and analysis operations. Local authorities advised residents to avoid the crash vicinity to facilitate the investigation and recovery activities.
-Investigative attention quickly focused on mechanical failure as a possible causal factor. Officials disclosed that prior maintenance work had addressed issues involving a wing strut and the flight control stick. Early indications suggest that a catastrophic right engine failure occurred during the initial climb phase. However, the exact sequence of events remains under review pending further analysis of the wreckage, flight data, and mechanical logs. Recovery operations were immediately initiated by a coordinated effort involving the Air Support Division, Marine Police, and other Royal Thai Police units to preserve potential evidence.
+The reasons behind the crash remain under investigation as of this writing. The aircraft, manufactured in 2007, was considered a high-performance single-engine model capable of fast cruise speeds and extended range. Investigators are expected to focus on several potential factors, including but not limited to pilot experience, maintenance records, mechanical integrity, and possible spatial disorientation during the approach. The aircraft's final recorded position data and impact site are consistent with a loss of control event during final approach or short final, although official findings will be released following the completion of the investigation.
-The wreckage retrieval and subsequent forensic examination are expected to offer critical insight into the failure chain. Witnesses and available video recordings are being analyzed in conjunction with structural and engine component inspections. Given the aircraft’s low altitude and proximity to shore at the time of the crash, investigators are examining aerodynamic factors, maintenance actions, and possible material failures that could have contributed to the loss of control. The Thai aviation authority and Police Aviation Division have jointly announced a review of flight safety protocols and maintenance standards for all aircraft under their jurisdiction.
+Update 2025-04-27:
-The loss of the Royal Thai Police DHC-6-400 Twin Otter underscores the risks associated with test flights following significant mechanical repairs. Investigators will continue to evaluate whether proper procedures were followed during the aircraft’s maintenance and return-to-service checks. The Royal Thai Police leadership has committed to a full inquiry to determine the root cause and implement measures to prevent similar accidents. Updates from the official investigation are expected as evidence analysis progresses.
+The three individuals who were fatally injured in the crash have been identified as Jonathan Braun, the pilot from Middle Tennessee; Dylan Clay Davis, a male passenger from Alabama; and Kelsie Lynn Davis, the wife of Dylan Clay Davis. Witnesses reported that the aircraft descended into a field, impacting a creek bank near Almyra Road. Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have been notified and are investigating the accident. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. - [https://www.facebook.com/NickBeresNC5/posts/pfbid02Zm3MHoaQmqs6L7x4rPfuy5mLTUJcgTtE7hsCunPLmhgYtJ7cFKhV3DCEQPCz8zJl Nick Beres NC5]
-This page will be updated as more information becomes available.
+'''This page will be updated as more information becomes available.'''
 </div>
 == Tracking and Social Media ==
-* Flight Tracking: Flightradar24, FlightAware, AirNav RadarBox
+* Flight Tracking: Flightradar24, [https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N242RE/history/20250426/1521Z/KEET/KSRB FlightAware,] [https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=a238e9&lat=36.036&lon=-85.552&zoom=14.5&showTrace=2025-04-26&leg=2&trackLabels ADS-B Exchange]
 * Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter)
 == Sources and References ==
 * [https://www.tnflyingmachines.com/aircraft-for-sale TN Flying Machines]
+* [https://www.newschannel5.com/news/deadly-plane-crash-in-white-county-leaves-three-dead#google_vignette News Channel 5]
+* [https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/plane-crash-reported-in-white-county/ WKRN]
+* [https://spartalive.com/stories/plane-crash-in-northend-community,148667 SpartaLive]
+* [https://www.facebook.com/NickBeresNC5/posts/pfbid02Zm3MHoaQmqs6L7x4rPfuy5mLTUJcgTtE7hsCunPLmhgYtJ7cFKhV3DCEQPCz8zJl Nick Beres NC5]
+* [https://aas-inc.us/ Aviation Services of TN Inc]
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