NASHVILLE, TENN. — A nationally recognized aviation attorney is raising serious concerns about a fatal crash near Centennial Airport, questioning whether the single-engine aircraft was properly inspected before takeoff — and why the engine failed mid-flight without warning.

The crash, which occurred on September 5, claimed the lives of both pilots aboard a Beech P35 Bonanza during an instructional flight. According to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the aircraft had been conducting multiple takeoffs and landings at Centennial Airport before it crashed near a generator and struck concrete barriers. Investigators confirmed the engine stopped during flight, but no distress call was ever made.

“Engine failure was the immediate cause — but that’s not where the investigation should end,” said Tennessee aviation attorney Keith Williams, who has represented families in numerous aircraft accident cases. “We need to know why the engine failed, and whether the aircraft was thoroughly inspected before departure. A pre-flight inspection isn’t optional — it’s a critical step in ensuring airworthiness.”

Williams says the lack of a distress call suggests the pilots may not have realized the engine was failing until it was too late — raising further questions about potential mechanical or maintenance issues.

“Every crash is a chain of preventable events,” Williams added. “If that chain began on the ground, the public deserves to know.”

The NTSB investigation is ongoing. No final determination has been made regarding maintenance records or potential contributing factors beyond engine failure.

In addition to his practice, Williams is the Past Chair of the American Association for Justice’s Aviation Litigation Section, and he is a member of the Aviation and Space Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Mr. Williams is also a member and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association