CHEATHAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — The tight-knit aviation community is mourning the loss of an experienced pilot in Cheatham County.
It appears his high-performance plane took a nosedive into the Cumberland River. Officials identified the pilot and the sole occupant of the plane as Darel Whittaker. Although friends and family knew him as “Dazz.” Originally from Australia, he was 51 years old.
According to FlightAware, Whittaker’s plane appeared to be making circular turns for about 12 minutes before the path stopped.
911 calls detail moments leading up to plane crash in Cumberland River
Blake Butler, a pilot based in Shelbyville with nearly 40 years of flight experience and a friend of Whittaker’s, said the air space where the Aussie was flying is known for aerobatic practice.
“If you are practicing for an aerobatic performance, it’s very strenuous,” explained Butler. “You probably would not be up in the air for more than 30 minutes. The airplane also burns a lot of fuel.”
Now, fellow pilots remember Dazz for his passion for aviation.