This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N218VB
- History of Flight:
On September 18, 2025, at about 1457 local time, a Cirrus SR22T GTS G5 Carbon, N218VB, registered to a private individual out of Brentwood, TN, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near the Macon County Airport (1A5), Franklin, North Carolina. The three occupants onboard sustained fatal injuries. The cross-country personal flight originated from John C. Tune Airport (KJWN), Nashville, Tennessee, and was destined to 1A5.
According to preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data (figure 1), the airplane departed runway 20 at KJWN and entered a climbing left turn to an inflight cruising altitude of 11,000 ft. The flight appeared to be uneventful. At 1438:06, the airplane started its descent towards 1A5. At 1449:34, the airplane started a 360 turn about 1.50 miles west of runway 7. At the conclusion of the turn, the airplane proceeded to fly over the runway before turning left and joining the left pattern for runway 7 (figure 2). At 1455:39, the airplane was at 2500 ft, 101 knots groundspeed, and descending 1300 feet per minute (fpm) on final approach to runway 7. At 1455:55, the airplane was at 2100 ft, 92 knots groundspeed, and descending 850 fpm. At 1456:11, the airplane was observed on the runway with a groundspeed of 78 knots. Immediately after that, the airplane drifted to the left and was observed climbing to about 2250 ft with a reported groundspeed of 70 knots before the track ended in the vicinity of the accident site. (figure 3)
- Pilot Information:
Unknown at this point.
The current registered owner (unknown if this was accident pilot) holds a private pilot certificate, issued/updated on 11/3/2020, with an airplane single engine land and instrument airplane ratings. His second class medical was issued on October 2023, with a note stating that he must wear corrective lens(es) to meat vision standards at all required distances.
- Aircraft Information:
The accident airplane, serial number 1378, was manufactured in 2016. It was a five-seat low-wing monoplane aircraft of composite construction. It was powered by a Continental TSIO-550-K engine driving a three-blade constant speed governor-regulated propeller.
According to the Cirrus SR22T Pilot Operating Handbook (POH), the recommended airspeed for a go-around with flaps 50% is 80 KIAS (knots Indicated airspeed).
Additionally, Section 4, Normal Procedures:
Balked Landing/Go-Around
- 1. Autopilot........................DISENGAGE
- 2. Power Lever .........................FULL FORWARD
- 3. Flaps .............................................50%
- 4. Airspeed............................80-85 KIAS After clear of obstacles:
- 5. Flaps................... UP
Amplification
In a balked landing (go around) climb, disengage autopilot, apply full power, then reduce the flap setting to 50%. If obstacles must be cleared during the go around, climb at 80-85 KIAS with 50% flaps. After clearing any obstacles, retract the flaps and accelerate to the normal flaps up climb speed.
- Wreckage and Impact Information:
The main wreckage, which consisted of the entire airplane, came upright about 500 ft north of the runway. There was no post crash fire. Both wings and tail remained attached to the fuselage, and there was no debris field leading to the airplane. The engine remained attached to the firewall and was pushed down into the grass. Both wings sustained leading edge impact damage. The tail was twisted forward. The cockpit/passenger cabin remained intact. The impact appears consistent with a low altitude aerodynamic stall/spin with little no forward speed.
- Airport Information:
Macon County Airport is an uncontrolled public airport located about 3 miles northwest of Franklin, North Carolina. The airport field elevation is 2033.9 ft. It features a single asphalt runway 7/25 that is 5002 feet long and 100 feet wide.
The airport is surrounded by rapidly rising terrain at all quads.
- Weather:
The recorded weather at 1A5, at 1555 (about 2 minutes before the accident), was: wind 0 knots; sky clear;visibility 10 miles; temperature 27 degrees C; dew point 17 degrees C, altimeter 30.13 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was 3727 ft.
Area Forecast Discussion
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 142 PM EDT Thu Sep 18 2025 .SYNOPSIS... Weak high pressure will keep conditions mostly dry today outside of a mountain shower or storm. An uptick in shower and storm chance are possible Friday into the weekend, especially over the High Country. Temperatures will be on the warm side of normal through Saturday before a slight cool down commences Sunday into the early part of next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 1233 PM EDT Thursday: Quiet weather to continue for the near term! Mostly clear conditions are ongoing with a light NE wind, beneath expansive high pressure and a nebulous upper pattern. Ill-defined troughiness will persist through much of the period, but heights are gently climbing ahead of a ridge axis extending from the Ozark Plateau north into the lower Great Lakes. As a result, above-normal highs are expected today - climbing into the mid-80s across the Piedmont and Upstate - and any convection trying to get a foothold in the mountains will encounter a mostly suppressive environment. So, while some widely scattered showers will likely develop today over the high terrain...neither coverage nor intensity will be very impressive. Any convection that develops will dissipate quickly after sunset. Mostly clear skies are expected overnight, except of course in the mountain valleys, where another round of valley fog and stratus should develop in the wee hours of Friday morning. Wind should be calm enough and radiative cooling effective enough that at least patchy fog may develop over parts of the NC Foothills and Savannah River Valley, too. Lows will fall into the low 60s again. Friday will be similar, with ridgetop convection in the afternoon but no mentionable PoP outside the mountains. Highs should climb into the upper 80s, with some favored spots along I-77 hitting 90 degrees. Skies will be mostly clear again, with some fair weather cu outside the mountains.
.AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: Dry and VFR across the terminal forecast
area. Expect mostly clear conditions with some FEW/SCT cumulus
through the afternoon. Some ridgetop convection will probably
develop...but remain isolated to widely scattered...and so no
mention in the 18z TAF for KAVL. Expect light and variable winds,
and mostly-clear skies overnight, except for the mountain valleys,
which will see another round of valley fog and stratus into Friday
morning. Another round of SE winds will develop after daybreak,
but should remain light. Better coverage of showers is expected
over the mountains Friday.
Outlook: Isolated to widely scattered diurnal showers will occur
again on Saturday, then drying is expected on Sunday and Monday.
Valley fog and stratus will be possible each morning where clouds
do not inhibit nocturnal radiation.Sun and Moon Data
The sun’s position at the time of the accident was about 50° over the horizon on an azimuth of 217° SW, and the the Moon was 37 degrees over the horizon on an azimuth of 264° W.
- Additional Information:
no
The pilot was Brett James the songwriter and there were two women passengers with him. R.I.P.
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