Songwriter Brett James dead in Cirrus SR22T plane crash . On September 18, 2025, the plane of Grammy-winning country songwriter Brett James crashed in North Carolina and injured him fatally. The crash of Cirrus SR22T in the neighborhood of Franklin took the lives of the three individuals in the airplane. James is an artist with a lengthening list of hits such as Jesus, Take the Wheel, leaving an indelible mark to country music. It is under investigation by FAA and NTSB.
What Happened
- Brett James (born Brett James Cornelius), a Grammys-winning country music songwriter, was killed in a plane crash in North Carolina.
- The accident happened on the 18 th of September, 2025, near 3 p.m. local time.
- It was a Cirrus SR22T and crashed near the Iotla Valley Elementary School near Franklin in Macon County in North Carolina.
- It had three occupants on board and they all perished.
- Investigators FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash.
Who Brett James Was
- He was 57 years old.
- She is from Columbia, Missouri.
- Kenny Chesney is known to have a number of hits in country music, such as Carrie Underwood, and her song, Jesus, Take the Wheel, Kenny Chesney, When the Sun Goes Down, and others.
- Inauguration into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (2020).
What is Known /Under Investigation
- Events Senior Aircraft Accident The accident occurred on the 18th of September, 2025 at about 3 p.m. in Franklin, Macon County, North Carolina.
- The plane was a small, one engine, single-engine Cirrus SR22T that was owned by Brett James.
- It went down in a field off Iotla Valley Elementary School. Luckily, there were no injured students and staff.
- It had three occupants on board and they all perished.
- For example, the crash is under investigation by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board).
What Isn’t Yet Clear
- Motive behind the accident: So far, there is no established cause. Investigators have not issued definitive reports regarding mechanical failure, weather, error of pilot etc.
- Some of the media reports have theorized about potential mechanical problems or a fire in the cabin (e.g. a faulty heater), but that is simply just unconfirmed at this stage. Official investigation findings are still yet to support them.
Reactions & Legacy
- According to ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), Brett was a reliable partner to the biggest names in country, and a champion of his fellow songwriters.
- Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, to which he was a member (inducted in 2020) has been greatly saddened.
- Other artists have been tributing. An example of how this is the case was when Dierks Bentley looked back and reflected on how his friendship with Brett James, and his song writing of the song I Hold On, had influenced him. Bentley described him as a friend and complimented the effects of the music.
- Other collaborators, such as Sara Evans, have said that they are crushed, pointing to his skills as a songwriter and his friendliness.
Impact & What He Leaves Behind
- Brett James was a country music songwriter who had a very large influential career and had many hits with large artists such as Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, etc.
- Other than hits, he was also an authority in the songwriting community as one who was a supporter of songwriters and was influential in shaping the sound of contemporary country music.
- He has a wife (Sandra Cornelius) and kids.
What Is Confirmed
- Crash Case Brett James, the registered owner of a Cirrus SR22T plane, on September 18, 2025, at around 3 p.m. local time, her plane crashed in a field in Franklin, Macon County, North Carolina.
- There was no one surviving and onboard three people.
- The plane is allegedly having taken off John C Tune Airport in Nashville, Tennessee.
- The location of the crash is close to Iotla Valley Elementary School and nobody on the ground (students or staff) was injured.
- The FAA and NTSB are also investigating the crash. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and update where necessary.
What Is Not Known Yet
- Reasons behind the crash: Do they include mechanical failure, weather, or pilot error, or some other reasons. Not yet any signs of a distress signal, fire in flight or other warning signals.
- Preliminary report: The FAA has announced that a preliminary accident/incident report is normally made available within the next business day following first documentation but nothing is as yet published.
- Flight details: Trip intended destination, route, elevation, communications: This information has not been disclosed.
- Weather conditions during crash: There has been no publicly available meteorological data made out unequivocally yet.
Conclusion
The brutal killing of Brett James in a plane accident at Franklin, North Carolina, will be a great loss to the music industry, particularly the world of the songwriting in country music.
James was a Grammy-winning songwriter who has an industry legacy of number-one hits and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, with the hits under his belt including “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and When the Sun Goes Down.
Although this crash killed all three occupants in a Cirrus SR22T, both the FAA and NTSB are investigating the exact cause of the crash. The society is not only losing a gifted songwriter but also a mentor and a partner whose work formed the contemporary country music.
In addition to his career success, James is remembered as being generous, a mentor and a person who was immensely dedicated to the art of songwriting. Fans, colleagues, and other people still celebrate his memory and the everlasting music he has created as the investigation is going on and thinking about the impact of his artistry over time.
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