WASHINGTON — Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board departed Washington Dulles Airport at about 5:30 pm ET Thursday [December 18] and are en route to North Carolina to begin their investigation of Thursday’s accident involving a Cessna 550 airplane that crashed on return to landing following departure from Statesville Regional Airport.
The NTSB is leading the investigation of the crash, which occurred at approximately 10:15 a.m.
NTSB Member Michael Graham is expected to hold an initial media briefing on the investigation on Friday. Details on location and time will be posted Friday morning on Twitter @NTSB_Newsroom.
The NTSB team of 16 includes those with expertise in the following areas:
- Systems
- Recorders
- Powerplants
- Drones
- Family assistance
The investigation is also being supported in Washington by specialists in operations, air traffic control and meteorology.
The team is led by Investigator-In-Charge Dan Baker. Mr. Baker has more than 25 years experience investigating aviation accidents. NTSB investigators expect to be on scene in North Carolina for about a week.
An NTSB investigation looks not only at what occurred but why and proposes recommendations to prevent future similar tragedies.
The NTSB has no role in the release of the identities of accident victims and/or the extent and number of injuries, nor does it release the identities of those injured or killed; that’s handled by local authorities.
Sarah Sulick of NTSB Media Relations is traveling with the team in North Carolina. She can be reached at [email protected].
To report an incident/accident or if you are a public safety agency, please call 1-844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290 to speak to a Watch Officer at the NTSB Response Operations Center (ROC) in Washington, DC (24/7).
