Tragedy Strikes Tennessee: Seven Lives Lost in Devastating Percy Priest Lake Plane Crash

A somber pall settled over Tennessee as authorities confirmed the tragic loss of all seven individuals aboard a small jet that plummeted into Percy Priest Lake. The devastating incident claimed the lives of prominent Christian diet guru Gwen Shamblin Lara, her husband Joe Lara, and five other members of their Remnant Fellowship Church, leaving their community reeling.

The Cessna C501 jet, registered to JL&GL Productions LP, took off from Smyrna Rutherford County Airport on Saturday morning, May 29, 2021, bound for Palm Beach International Airport in Florida.

Shortly after takeoff, at approximately 11:00 AM local time, the aircraft experienced an unknown issue and crashed into the waters of Percy Priest Lake, near the Fate Sanders Boat Ramp. Emergency services were immediately dispatched, with crews from Rutherford County and local fire departments converging on the scene.

Initial reports indicated a dire situation, and search-and-recovery operations quickly transitioned into recovery efforts as the full scope of the tragedy became apparent.

Rutherford County Fire Rescue Captain Joshua Sanders confirmed that there were no survivors. The victims were identified as Gwen Shamblin Lara, 66, founder of the Weigh Down Ministries and Remnant Fellowship Church; her husband William Joe Lara, 61, a former actor known for playing Tarzan; Brandon Hannah, 40; David L.

Martin, 64; Jennifer J. Martin, 63; Jessica Walters, 38; and Jonathan Walters, 40.

The news sent shockwaves through the Remnant Fellowship Church and the broader Christian community. Gwen Shamblin Lara was a highly influential figure, known for her controversial Weigh Down Workshop, which emphasized spiritual discipline as a path to weight loss, and for her leadership of the Remnant Fellowship Church, which she founded in 1999.

Joe Lara, a licensed pilot, was reportedly at the controls of the aircraft. Their passing leaves a significant void in the lives of their followers and family.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) immediately launched investigations into the cause of the crash.

Investigators worked tirelessly at the crash site, which was spread across a wide debris field in the lake, to piece together the sequence of events that led to the catastrophic failure. Recovery teams, including divers, faced challenging conditions as they meticulously searched for remains and critical aircraft components.

Efforts included the use of sonar and underwater drones to map the wreckage on the lakebed.

The NTSB's preliminary reports would later focus on various factors, including the aircraft's maintenance history, the pilot's experience, and environmental conditions at the time of the crash. Each piece of wreckage recovered and every data point collected became crucial in understanding why this flight, carrying seven souls, met such a sudden and tragic end.

The profound loss underscores the inherent risks of aviation, even as it highlights the deep personal impact of such disasters on families and communities.