A single-engine plane carrying renowned country songwriter Brett James spiraled out of control before crashing near a North Carolina airport on Thursday, September 18, 2025, killing all three people aboard, according to chilling new details released by federal investigators.
The private Cirrus SR22T, piloted by James and approaching Macon County Airport in Franklin around 3 p.m., requested a visual approach to runway 7 from air traffic control. Shortly after, James transmitted that he was at 6,800 feet and intended to perform a 360-degree turn to land on the runway, the National Transportation Safety Board reported.
Those were the last words heard from the cockpit. According to the NTSB, “multiple witnesses near the accident site reported observing the airplane flying at a low altitude near the airport and over a nearby school playground. The airplane was described as rocking side-to-side, with its wingtips moving up and down before rolling inverted and descending behind the tree line.”
According to AOPA’s detailed analysis of ADS-B data, a 360-degree turn occurred earlier in the approach sequence; the aircraft was at half a mile during final approach, then it overflew the runway at low altitude, and only after passing over the runway did it enter the tightening spiral that led to the crash. The plane crashed in a field roughly a quarter-mile from the airfield, adjacent to Iotla Valley Elementary School. No students or staff at the school were injured.
James, 57, died in the crash along with his wife, Melody Carole Wilson, 59, and her daughter, 28-year-old Meryl Maxwell Wilson. According to reports, the three had just celebrated Meryl’s birthday days before boarding the flight from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville. The plane was registered to Brett Cornelius, James’ legal name.
The Federal Aviation Administration and NTSB are investigating the crash. Both agencies confirmed there were no survivors.
James built a legendary career as one of Nashville’s most successful songwriters, penning chart-topping hits for country music’s biggest stars. His breakthrough came with Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take the Wheel,” which he co-wrote with Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson. The song became Underwood’s first of 15 number-one hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in early 2006, spending six weeks at the top position and crossing over to the pop Top 20.
The song earned two Grammy Awards, including Best Country Song, which James shared with his co-writers, and was also nominated for Song of the Year. A 2020 inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and a Grammy winner, James also wrote Kenny Chesney’s “When the Sun Goes Down” and “Out Last Night,” Dierks Bentley’s “I Hold On,” Jason Aldean’s “The Truth,” and Rascal Flatts’ “Summer Nights.”
His work extended beyond country music. Taylor Swift recorded “A Perfectly Good Heart,” which she co-wrote with James and Troy Verges, for her debut 2006 album. He also collaborated with Martina McBride on “Blessed” and Scotty McCreery’s debut single “I Love You This Big.”
Underwood paid tribute to her collaborator in an emotional Instagram post on Friday, September 19, 2025. She described the loss as unfathomable and called James the epitome of cool, sharing memories of working alongside the songwriter and record producer, including hearing him sing her song “Cowboy Casanova,” which he co-wrote.
Underwood highlighted James’ generosity in the songwriting process, recalling writing with him on a song that he basically wrote 75 percent of and had ready when he walked into the room. At the end of the songwriting process, he insisted they split the credit. She remembered James as someone who “loved the Lord,” noting that her favorite songs to sing of theirs are the ones that he or they wrote about Jesus because the thoughts and feelings behind them are so genuine and pure. She added that she would never sing one note of them again without thinking of him.
Country superstar Dierks Bentley, who co-wrote his hit “I Hold On” with James, posted a tribute on Instagram calling him a total stud, fellow aviator, and one of the best singer-songwriters in Nashville, describing him as a total legend.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers issued a statement indicating that James was a trusted collaborator to country’s greatest names and a true advocate for his fellow songwriters. The organization thanked him for his unforgettable music.
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, where James was inducted in 2020, confirmed his death in a post on social media.
Born on June 5, 1968, in Columbia, Missouri, James is survived by his ex-wife Sandra Cornelius and their four children.
