Plane ‘crash-landed’ near Lebanon school playground

LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN) — Emergency personnel responded to a Lebanon elementary school Tuesday evening after a small airplane “crash-landed” outside, according to officials.

The Lebanon Police Department said the single-engine aircraft ended up near the Byars Dowdy Elementary School playground on Tuesday, Sept. 1. It went down around 6:15 p.m.

While children were present on school grounds at the time, authorities said none of them were on the playground or near the plane when it crash-landed. There are no reports of injuries at this time.

According to the LPD, the plane took off from the Lebanon Municipal Airport and was headed north before it crashed about a mile away. The preliminary investigation shows the aircraft experienced a mechanical failure.

“It was honestly a really great job by the pilot to recognize, and he made a safe emergency landing where he saw an area with no kids,” Lebanon Police Department Public Information Officer Zach Patton said.

Law enforcement posted on social media just before 6:45 p.m. Tuesday that emergency crews were on scene and working to secure the area.At 9:10 p.m., the LPD said Hickory Ridge Road had reopened.Officials said the National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation and will provide further information as it becomes available. Lebanon police officers are staying on the scene until the aircraft is covered.

The LPD credited the Lebanon Fire Department, Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, Wilson County Emergency Management Agency and Lebanon Municipal Airport staff for their response to the scene.

No additional details have been released about this incident.