Three people were killed Thursday afternoon when a small plane that departed Nashville crashed in Macon County, North Carolina, WSMV reported Thursday night.
Flight data shows the plane left John C. Tune Airport at 12:41 p.m. Officials said the Cirrus SR22T went down around 3 p.m. near an elementary school in Macon County.
The FAA confirmed the aircraft was owned by Brentwood resident Brett Cornelius. The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame later identified him as one of the victims. Cornelius, known professionally as Brett James, was a Grammy-winning songwriter and producer. He co-wrote Carrie Underwood’s breakout hit “Jesus Take the Wheel,” Kenny Chesney’s “When the Sun Goes Down,” and dozens of other chart-topping country and pop songs…