More news on the Cessna 172 that crashed (this) Thursday morning (12/13/2012) at the Murfreesboro Airport.  Officials ran the thousand or so feet to the crash site the minute the sound of impact was heard. As reported earlier on WGNS, 49-year old Randall Ray was the only one in the airplane.

Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue's Public Information Officer Ashley McDonald told WGNS news . . . 

The call was received by 911 at 8:36 Thursday morning. Pilot Ray was trapped inside the aircraft. Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue's team began the extrication process at 8:42AM and it took twenty-minutes to free him from the wreckage.

Help For Pilot Was There In Seconds

Murfreesboro Police Sergeant Kyle Evans noted that personnel inside the airport heard the loud crashing sound and rushed instantly to the crumpled aircraft. Since the Murfreesboro Airport does not have an active control tower, there were no witnesses and no two-way radio recording that indicate problems. 

Drainage Ditch Stopped Aircraft

The single-engine aircraft ran off the runway and was stopped by the embankment of a storm water drainage ditch. Sergeant Evans said that fuel was pouring from the aircraft's wings when the first responder arrived. Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue quickly treated the fuel that was flowing into the drainage area. 

The Cessna 172 was reportedly owned by Murfreesboro Aviation, and it is normal routine to rent aircraft to licensed pilots.

The airport was temporarily shut-down Thursday morning, so that the crash investigation could be completed. 

It's interesting to note that the Murfreesboro Municipal Airport is one of the few general aviation facilities in Tennessee that is self-supporting. One of its largest tennants is Middle Tennessee State University.