Plane crashes in Cumberland County, Knoxville pilot killed

Published 3:18 pm Wednesday, May 26, 2021

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(AP) A small plane that was connected with a flight school crashed near an airport in eastern Tennessee on Tuesday, killing the pilot, authorities said.
The body of 35-year-old Vasile Ghelan, of Knoxville, was found at the crash scene, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Gary Howard said in a statement. Ghelan was the only person on board.
Officials said the plane was based out of Knoxville Downtown Island Home Airport and was part of a flight school.
Ghelan was certified as a student pilot who was not allowed to carry passengers, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported, citing Federal Aviation Administration records.
The newspaper said it took authorities hours to find the wreckage.
Howard said a flight plan had not been filed and officials did not immediately know what caused the crash. The FAA said it will investigate.

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