WHITE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) -- Officials released new details Wednesday about the circumstances surrounding an April plane crash that left three people dead in White County.

A Mooney M20TN on a personal flight crashed at approximately 11:47 a.m. on April 26 near Sparta. According to the National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report, not only were the private pilot and two passengers fatally injured, but the plane was "substantially damaged."

Earlier that day, officials said the pilot flew from the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport (SRB) in Sparta to the Shelby County Airport (EET) in Alabaster, Alabama, where he landed, boarded two passengers and some cargo, and left to return to SRB.

Based on Federal Aviation Administration preliminary air traffic control audio and Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data, the NTSB said the plane took off at approximately 10:39 a.m. and headed toward SRB, maintaining contact with several air traffic control facilities along the flight route.

"Approaching SRB from the southwest, at 1136:55, the Sector 41 Radar Position controller of the Memphis Air Route Traffic Control Center instructed the pilot to cross the WENUB (intermediate fix/initial approach fix) at or above 4,000 ft and cleared the flight for the RNAV runway 4 approach to SRB," the NTSB stated. "The flight continued direct to WENUB then turned to a northeast direction while flying toward SRB. At 1143:52, when the flight was about 6.2 nautical miles from the approach end of runway 4, the pilot cancelled his instrument flight rules clearance and informed the controller that the cloud bases were at 3,000 ft."

According to officials, SRB personnel reported hearing the pilot announce on the SRB common traffic advisory frequency that the plane was 11 miles and then 3 miles from the airport, but the pilot made no distress call.

The NTSB said the flight continued directly toward SRB until 11:46 a.m. and then a slight deviation to the right occurred. A witness who was approximately 0.3 nautical miles from the crash site reported there was “some kind of trouble the engine was cutting in and out like it was out of gas,” adding that she saw the airplane was in level flight, diverted her attention, and heard the sound of a crash.

During the final portion of the flight, officials said the plane flew over a field before hitting trees and a creek about 1.5 nautical miles from the end of a runway.

"Initial examination of the engine revealed evidence of internal catastrophic malfunction. The No. 3 cylinder connecting rod was fractured and not attached at either end. The No. 3 cylinder connecting rod journal did not display any evidence of lack of lubrication. The engine was retained for further examination," the NTSB explained. "A Stratus 3 receiver was located in the wreckage and retained for read-out by the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Division. Additionally, the shoulder harness airbag electronic module assembly, a portion of the pitch trim system and an annunciator panel were also retained for further examination."

The SRB director previously told News 2 the individuals who died in the crash had been identified as Jonathan Braun, the pilot, along with Dylan Clay Davis and his wife, Kelsie Lynn Davis, both from Alabama.

Officials noted in their report from Wednesday, June 18 that the information is preliminary and subject to change.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/ntsb-releases-preliminary-report-on-white-county-plane-crash-that-killed-3/