{"id":2103659,"date":"2025-10-20T14:13:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T14:13:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2103659"},"modified":"2025-10-20T14:13:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T14:13:21","slug":"new-report-details-how-songwriter-brett-james-lost-control-of-plane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/new-report-details-how-songwriter-brett-james-lost-control-of-plane\/","title":{"rendered":"New Report Details How Songwriter Brett James Lost Control of Plane"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Late country songwriter Brett James<\/strong><\/a> was flying the aircraft that killed him and his family<\/a>, new details reveal.<\/p>\n

People<\/em><\/a> obtained a report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Monday, October 20, which revealed that James \u201crequested a visual approach\u201d to land before attempting to make a full turn. He then lost control of the aircraft, causing it to crash.<\/p>\n

James stated that he \u201cintended to perform a 360-degree turn to land,\u201d per the report, but there was no further communication to air traffic control.<\/p>\n

\u201cSurveillance video showed the airplane flying over the runway before initiating a descending left turn,\u201d the NTSB report read. \u201cThe airplane continued descending in the left turn before entering a tightening spiral and impacting the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Kenny Chesney Breaks Silence on Songwriter Brett James’ Death<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tKenny Chesney is remembering the life and legacy of famed songwriter and his dear friend, Brett James. \u201cA very difficult goodbye to my Brother Of The Sun Brett James,\u201d Chesney, 57, wrote via Instagram on Monday, September 22. \u201cI haven\u2019t wanted to post \u2018cause I didn\u2019t want to believe it. Brett and I shared a [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The report also has multiple witness statements. One claimed that they saw the airplane \u201crocking from side-to-side\u201d before it was \u201crolling inverted and descending behind a tree line.\u201d<\/p>\n

No signs of engine failure were found and the aircraft is still undergoing investigation.<\/p>\n

News broke on September 18 that James, known for writing hits like Carrie Underwood<\/strong>\u2019s \u201cJesus Take the Wheel,\u201d died at age 57<\/a> in the plane crash, which occurred near North Carolina\u2019s Iotla Valley Elementary School. It was later confirmed that James\u2019 wife, Melody Carole<\/strong>, 59, and his stepdaughter, Meryl Wilson<\/strong>, were also killed in the crash.<\/p>\n

\u201cA Cirrus SR22T crashed in a field in Franklin, North Carolina, around 3 p.m. local time on Thursday, Sept. 18. Three people were on board,\u201d a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) read at the time, confirming that the NTSB would be launching an investigation into the accident.<\/p>\n

The crash took place two days after Wilson\u2019s 28th birthday, per her final post on social media.<\/p>\n

\u201c28 years old.\u2728142 days sober,\u201d she captioned an Instagram post on September 16. \u201cExtremely happy to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prior to his death, James wrote music for several notable names in the music industry, including Taylor Swift<\/strong>, Jessica Simpson<\/strong>, Kelly Clarkson<\/strong>, Bon Jovi and the Backstreet Boys. He worked closely with Underwood who remembered James in a social media tribute<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Celebrity Deaths of 2025<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tHollywood has mourned the deaths of some of its most legendary stars in 2025. The first half of the year saw the tragic news of the deaths of David Lynch, Michelle Trachtenberg, George Foreman, Val Kilmer and Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertston. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Please enter a valid [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cSome things are just unfathomable. The loss of Brett James to his family, friends and our music community is too great to put into words,\u201d she shared on September 19. \u201cBrett was the epitome of \u2018cool.\u2019 I see him in my mind riding up to my cabins to write on his motorcycle [and] his hair somehow perfectly coiffed despite being under a helmet for however long.\u201d<\/p>\n

Underwood\u2019s caption continued with specific memories of her and James.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always loved hearing him sing \u2018Cowboy Casanova\u2019 because a sassy girl anthem should\u2019ve sounded ridiculous coming from a macho dude like him, but somehow, he even made that cool,\u201d she continued. \u201cHe was a good guy. I remember writing with him on a song that he basically wrote 75 percent of and had ready when he walked in the room.<\/p>\n

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