Pilot in fatal plane crash identified

Nov. 7—What started out as a weekend trip to visit family in the Chicago area last Friday morning ended tragically when a plane crash in a remote wooded area in the Wilder community of Fentress County.

It is up to federal authorities to now determine what caused the 1965 Cessna 150-F — a small fixed-wing craft that seated two including the pilot — to become disabled and suddenly fall from the sky.

Fentress authorities confirmed Joshua Hertz, 37, Peachtree City, GA, was the pilot and the only person on board. He is survived by his wife, Monique Hertz, and their two sons, ages 4 and 5. He is a U.S. Army veteran.

It was widely reported Hertz left Falcon Field near Atlanta the morning of Nov. 1 and stopped for refueling at Crossville Memorial Airport.

Reports of a plane down were received shortly after, launching a search in Cumberland and Fentress counties. The searched ended that evening when a Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter pilot spotted the crash scene in the Skinner Mountain Wildlife Management Area.

It was reported the plane was destroyed and there was a post-crash fire. The body was recovered and taken to The University of Tennessee Medical Center for positive identification.

Family friend Kevin Swanson told the Chronicle via email the trip from Peachtree City to Chicago was one Hertz had previously made on several occasions.

Friends have established a GoFundMe account to assist the family with funeral and other expenses.