The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on the fatal North Carolina plane crash that killed Grammy-winning country songwriter Brett James last month. The report includes details from his final radio transmission.
James, who was piloting the aircraft, died alongside his wife, Melody Carole, 59, and her daughter, Meryl Wilson, 28.
According to the NTSB, James communicated with the Macon County Airport at approximately 2:48 p.m., reporting from an altitude of 6,800 feet that he “intended to perform a 360-degree turn to land.” This was his last transmission. The plane then descended to 6,300 feet before turning to approach the runway.
“Surveillance video showed the airplane flying over the runway before initiating a descending left turn,” the NTSB report stated. “The airplane continued descending in the left turn before entering a tightening spiral and impacting the ground.” Investigators found no evidence of engine failure.
A member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, James, 57, was a celebrated figure in the music industry. Following his death, tributes poured in from colleagues and organizations. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), which had twice named him Country Songwriter of the Year, called him “a trusted collaborator to country’s greatest names and a true advocate for songwriters.” The Nashville Songwriters Association International stated on Facebook, “The NSAI family is stunned by the death of board member and legendary songwriter Brett James. The loss is profound.”
While James began his career as a solo artist in 1995, he became one of Nashville’s most sought-after songwriters. He penned 494 songs recorded by other artists, including Carrie Underwood’s number-one hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” and wrote for stars such as Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, and Jason Aldean.
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