3 dead in small plane crash in Tennessee (sheriff’s office)

Three people died after a small plane crashed in Tennessee on Wednesday, authorities said.

A 911 caller reported an explosion around noon Wednesday in Williamson County that may have been a possible plane crash, authorities said.

The National Transportation Safety Board said a Beech V35 plane crashed near Franklin.

It’s unclear what caused the crash, but it “appears the plane broke up in flight,” Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mark Elrod said during a press briefing Wednesday evening.

There were no survivors, he said.

“It’s a tragic scene,” Elrod said.

The debris field is “pretty large,” the sheriff said. Its length is estimated at around 800 meters, authorities said.

“We don’t know exactly where the accident started and where it ended,” Elrod said.

No structures were damaged, but people reported debris on their property, including yards and driveways, Elrod said. A section of road near the crash site will be closed to traffic Thursday as authorities continue to search for debris, the sheriff said.

The plane left Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and was headed to Louisville, Kentucky, when it crashed, authorities said.

The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to arrive later Wednesday and begin its investigation Thursday, Elrod said.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the title of Deputy Chief Mark Elrod.