Witnesses Describe Spin Before Plane Impacted

Three people were killed Monday morning when their Beechcraft Baron 55 twin spun to the ground while on approach to land at Nashville International Airport.

The Associated Press reports the plane (file photo of type, below) impacted a hill in a rural area of North Nashville, TN, near a small cluster of homes. The accident occurred at approximately 10:45 am. The flight departed that morning from Hot Springs, AK bound for BNA on an IFR flight plan.

Officials said rain and low visibility conditions were present in the area at the time of the accident. Witnesses on the ground described hearing sputtering overhead, and seeing the plane spinning downward.

"I looked out the window, because I heard the sound, and I heard a sound like it was in trouble and I saw, coming from over my house, a plane," said Joey Dixon. "And I looked out and saw it just doing 360, just circling as it was coming down. It went below the tree-line, and I heard the crash and called 911 and took off towards the site."

Victims have been identified as pilot Greg Secrest, Rodney Tillman, and Tillman's wife Rebecca Ann. Nashville Metro Police said Rodney Tillman, the co-owner of Earthbound Trading Company, was headed to Nashville on a business trip.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 412ES        Make/Model: BE55      Description: 55 Baron (T-42 Cochise, C-55, E-20)
  Date: 11/24/2008     Time: 1646

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: NASHVILLE   State: TN   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT ON IFR FLIGHT PLAN CRASHED 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF NASHVILLE AFTER
  THE PILOT REPORTED AN INSTRUMENT PROBLEM, NASHVILLE, TN

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   3
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   2     Fat:   2     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: BNA 1653Z 2009G16 3SM -RBR BKN 018 OVC 026 11/09 A2997

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Pleasure      Phase: Cruise      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: NASHVILLE, TN  (CE19)                 Entry date: 11/25/2008

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.earthboundtrading.com/