FAA beginning to investigate airport mishap

Federal Aviation Administration officials are "just beginning" their investigation into a mishap at Lebanon's Municipal Airport which left a young Mt. Juliet woman critically injured.
Lebanon police on Monday identified the victim as Brandy Binkley, 22, of Henley Road in Mt. Juliet, who was airlifted to a Nashville hospital with what officials described as "critical" injuries after the early Friday night incident.
An FAA spokesperson said Monday the agency is "just beginning" its probe of the mishap, which occurred when Binkley reportedly walked into a still-rotating propeller of a craft piloted by her father.
"We are doing the investigation, but it's just beginning," said FAA spokesperson Kathleen Bergen, adding the probe would focus on "trying to determine all the details of how she came to walk into the propeller."
She said officials have been unable to interview the victim because of her injuries but indicated they plan to speak to Binkley and her father.
"That will certainly be a big part of it, as well as getting the reports from the local authorities and going over those," Bergen said. "It's possible they will also need to examine the airplane, if the investigators feel that's necessary."
She said no specific timetable has been calculated for how long the investigation may last.
"It could be a matter of weeks, or it could be a matter of months," Bergen said. "In this case, first and foremost it will be speaking to the people involved and going over the reports from the local police."
Senior Staff Writer Brooks Franklin can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 14 or by e-mail at brooks.franklin@lebanondemocrat.com.