On March 4, 2024, a fatal plane crash occurred near Interstate 40 in Nashville, Tennessee, close to John C. Tune Airport. The single-engine aircraft was carrying five passengers, all of whom tragically lost their lives.
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, the pilot had reported engine and power failure and sought permission for an emergency landing from John C. Tune Airport at approximately 7:40 p.m. Despite being given clearance, the pilot indicated the plane wouldn’t make it to the airport. The aircraft, identified as a single-engine Piper PA-32RT-300T, crashed and caught fire in a grassy area behind a Costco store, three miles from the airport.
The aircraft’s journey started in Ontario, Canada, and included stops in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, before departing from Mount Sterling at about 7:19 p.m.
Don Aaron, a spokesperson for the Metro Nashville Police Department, confirmed the loss of all passengers, stating, “It appears that everyone on board perished.” Notably, no injuries were reported among individuals on the ground, including those driving on the nearby interstate.
The Nashville Fire Department’s representative, Kendra Loney, confirmed the crash did not cause damage to any vehicles or buildings. Emergency crews secured the site and gathered the wreckage to assist in the ongoing investigation.
At a press conference held on Tuesday, March 5 at the crash site, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator Aaron McCarter revealed that the airplane was carrying three children and two adults; all passengers were Canadian nationals. The aircraft had been registered in Canada in July 2023. The victims were identified as pilot Victor Dotsenko, 43, his wife, Rimma Dotsenko, 39, and their three children, David, 12, Adam, 10, and Emma, 7. The NTSB’s investigation will consider the pilot’s qualifications and flying experience, including the total flight hours logged.
McCarter acknowledged the inherent difficulties of investigating incidents involving children but stressed the importance of understanding what led to the crash.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell commended the swift response of emergency services and extended his condolences to the victims’ families and friends. The Tennessee Department of Transportation skillfully managed traffic disruptions, implementing diversions to allow a thorough investigation and to ensure public safety.
Witnesses’ video footage shows the aircraft engulfed in fire and smoke. Images released by the police depict the airplane’s mangled wreckage surrounded by emergency crews on a grassy roadside.
Live traffic camera footage showed a substantial emergency services response, with eastbound traffic near the crash site halted, leading to significant congestion on the closed segment of I-40 East.
