Overview

• The single-engine Cirrus SR22T went down around 3 p.m. Thursday in a field near Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin, North Carolina, with no injuries on the ground reported.
• The flight departed Nashville’s John C. Tune Airport and carried three people, all of whom were killed, according to the FAA.
• North Carolina authorities identified the other victims as Melody Carole and Meryl Maxwell Wilson.
• Flight-tracking and FAA registry data list the aircraft as N218VB, registered to James under his legal name, Brett Cornelius.
• The NTSB is leading the investigation into the cause as colleagues and industry groups pay tribute to the Grammy winner and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member known for multiple No. 1 hits.