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The pilot in the deadly North Carolina plane crash that killed former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family has not been identified more than 24 hours later, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials announced Friday.
NTSB board member Michael Graham spoke to the media about the preliminary findings of his investigation into Thursday’s crash that killed all seven people aboard a flight to the Bahamas.
According to Graham, three people on board the Cessna C550 were licensed pilots, but authorities were unable to verify Friday who was piloting the flight.
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“This is the beginning of a very long process and we will not jump to any conclusions while we are here in North Carolina, and we will not jump to any conclusions,” Graham said of the entire investigation.
The plane was owned by GB Aviation Leasing LLC, according to federal aviation records. The company is owned by Biffle, who was licensed to fly single- and multi-engine helicopters and airplanes.
Biffle, 55, was killed alongside his wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14. Three other people killed on board were identified as Dennis Dutton, his son Jack and Craig Wadsworth.
The seven-person flight was headed to the Bahamas via Sarasota, Florida, when it crashed at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte. NTSB investigator-in-charge Dan Baker said the plane took off around 10:05 a.m. ET and began turning back toward the airport five minutes after takeoff.
The plane crashed approximately 10 minutes after takeoff.
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Authorities did not provide a cause and noted that weather conditions were relatively calm despite light rain. Graham said a preliminary report would be released in 30 days and a full investigation could take between 12 and 18 months before the final report is released.
Authorities say the plane’s black box was recovered from the crash site and is on its way to Washington, D.C., where it will be analyzed.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
