Aircraft Is Part of the University’s Growing Trainer Fleet

On September 5, an MTSU training exercise gone-wrong ended with an aircraft veering into the grass. This led to a temporary runway closure at the Murfreesboro Municipal Airport in Tennessee.

The plane is a part of MTSU’s Department of Aerospace trainer fleet. They own and operate 45 aircraft, consisting of mostly Diamond DA-40s and Piper Seminoles. The university’s program, though painfully overcrowded, is an approved Part 141 affair and is one of 16 partnered with Delta Propel. This is a mentorship and training arrangement meant to fast track students to a career with the airline.

The incident involved one of MTSU’s five Seminoles. It was practicing a simulated engine failure on takeoff and quickly ended up running off the runway. A bystander noted that there was significant damage to the aircraft's landing gear and both propellers. As a result, the runway in use was shut down and flight operations were suspended.

The student pilot and instructor were both unharmed. The Seminole stayed within bounds of the runway safety area and maintenance officials jumped in to remove it. MTSU operations were soon resumed after the scene was secured.

An investigation into the incident was immediately launched. Further details on the nature of the runway excursion have yet to be released.

They placed an order for 10 new aircraft in April 2023 to lighten the load on their overflowing program. These aircraft were outfitted with G1000 suites containing GFC Automated Flight Control Systems and Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT). They also put in millions of dollars to relocate their Aerospace Department to Shelbyville for expansion. MTSU hopes to have temporary facilities in place by the end of the 2024 school year and complete move-in by 2026.

These upgrades left the industry hopeful for MTSU’s progress in 2024. Last week’s incident, however, is surely a rough start to the school year.

FMI: www.aerospace.mtsu.edu