CLAXTON, Tennessee — A Grand Rapids man is dead after his small plane crashed in Tennessee on Friday, WBIR 10 said.
James Scarlett, the sole passenger and pilot of the plane, died in the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration's incident report said.
The report said the plane crashed under unknown circumstances near a road in the Claxton area.
Scarlett was the CEO of Scarlett Inc., a woodworking machinery company in Grand Rapids. The company said Monday that employees were devastated to learn of his death.
"James was not only a remarkable leader but also a cherished friend and mentor to many within our company and beyond. His absence will be deeply felt throughout the industry," the company said in a Facebook post.
"Thank you for your understanding and support during this difficult time," they wrote.
The plane took off from McGhee Tyson Airport south of Knoxville around 4:17 p.m. and was heading to Gerald R. Ford International Airport, according to FlightAware.com.
He was returning from the Wood Industry Conference in Florida, Woodworking Network said.
Scarlett was recently named the chair of the executive committee of the new Wood Industry Association. He took over Scarlett Inc. from his father, Jim Scarlett, according to Woodworking Network.
James was also an avid skier and was involved in disability ski coaching here in West Michigan. He is survived by his wife, according to his team bio.
The FAA listed the owner of the plane as Thunderbird Air, a limited liability company based in Grand Rapids.
The National Transportation Safety Board said the wreckage was taken to a facility in Atlanta for examination. Officials say they expects to release a preliminary report on the crash in a month.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Watch 13 ON YOUR SIDE for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and on your phone.
