LEBANON, Tenn. (WTVF) — A small plane made an emergency landing on the grounds of Byars Dowdy Elementary School in Lebanon Tuesday evening after experiencing engine failure shortly after takeoff.
Lebanon Police said calls came in to 911 around 6:15 p.m. The aircraft went down in a playground area at the school, located in the 900 block of Hickory Ridge Road.
The plane took off from Lebanon Municipal Airport heading northbound. Preliminary indications point to a mechanical engine failure. The school is approximately 1.4 miles from the airport, meaning the aircraft had not been airborne long before the pilot declared an emergency.
Officials say the pilot spotted an open area on the school grounds and successfully landed the aircraft there. The pilot was the only person on board and walked away without serious injuries and was not transported to a hospital.
No one on the ground was hurt. Children were on campus for after-school activities when the plane came down, but no children were near the playground or landing area at the time of the incident.
Lebanon Police Public Information Officer Zach Patton said the timing of the incident helped keep everyone safe.
“We’re very thankful no one was hurt,” Patton said. “This happened about three hours after school ended, and there were no kids on the playground or in this parking lot where we’re standing. There were other activities happening on school grounds farther away from the landing site, but we’re just thankful no one was injured.”
Multiple agencies responded to the scene within minutes of the first calls, including the Lebanon Police Department, Lebanon Fire Department, Wilson County Sheriff's Office, Wilson County Emergency Management Agency, and personnel from Lebanon Municipal Airport.
The National Transportation Safety Board is sending resources to Lebanon to investigate.
Wilson County EMA is advising people to avoid the area. Lebanon Police will maintain a presence on scene while the investigation continues.
Classes at Byars Dowdy Elementary School are expected to continue on a normal schedule Wednesday, though students may still see the aircraft on campus when they arrive.
This is a breaking news story. Stay with NewsChannel 5 on all platforms for the latest information as it becomes available.
Every night, Forrest Sanders brings us stories showcasing the best of humanity. This story profiles, perhaps, Tennessee's most eccentric resident who made an impact on an aspiring journalist. I'm always in awe of Forrest's storytelling; I truly appreciated his vulnerability with this one.
- Carrie Sharp
