âď¸Â What happened
⢠On June 8, a de Havilland Canada DHCâ6 Twin Otter carrying 20 people (19 skydivers + 1 pilot) crashed just after takeoff at Tullahoma Regional Airport, about 75âŻmi south of Nashville .
⢠The aircraft reportedly experienced an aborted takeoff, then veered off runway into trees and rough terrain
đĽÂ Survivor Accounts & Medical Updates
⢠Justin Fuller âSpideyâ, a veteran skydiving instructor on board, shared that he emerged âwithout a scratchâ and is âextremely blessed,â while praising the pilot for saving everyone onboard ďżź.
⢠A total of six people were hospitalizedâthree airlifted, one by ground transport, and others treated on-site. As of now, the pilot remains in critical condition, and two others are seriously hurt ďżź.
⸝
đ Crash Details & Investigation
⢠The DHCâ6 Twin Otter, registered N166DH and maintained by Randigo Aviation for Skydive Tennessee, aborted its takeoff, clipped trees, and crashed into rough terrain just past the runway. It reportedly split in two, suffering major damage ďżź.
⢠The FAA conducted immediate interviews; the NTSB is now leading the crash investigation, which includes cockpit voice recorder retrieval (though the aircraft wasnât required to have one), aircraft maintenance records review, and witness statements ďżź.
⸝
đĽÂ Visual Evidence
đ Community & Operator Response
⢠Skydive Tennessee confirmed the aircraft was up-to-date on all maintenance checks and expressed gratitude toward first responders and their community, stating their priority is determining the cause and supporting those affected ￟.
⢠Local residents witnessed the crash aftermath and described the rescue as âtruly a miracle,â thankful that no one on the ground was harmed .
⸝
Whatâs Next
1. NTSB will release a preliminary report in the coming days, outlining probable causes and initial findings.
2. FAA will evaluate any procedural or operational lapses, and Skydive Tennessee may adjust their safety protocols accordingly.
3. Updates on the pilotâs and other injured passengersâ recoveries will likely follow.
⸝
This remarkable survivalâ20 people onboard, no fatalities, six injuriesâhas resonated deeply. The focus now is on understanding exactly what went wrong during takeoff and ensuring steps are taken so it doesnât happen again.
