NTSB says pilot in fatal North Carolina plane crash that killed NASCAR's Greg Biffle not yet identified

The aviator of the deadly level clang successful North Carolina that killed erstwhile NASCAR operator Greg Biffle and his household has not been identified much than 24 hours later, officials with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Friday. 

NTSB committee subordinate Michael Graham spoke to the media astir the preliminary findings of its probe into Thursday's clang that killed each 7 radical aboard a formation headed to the Bahamas. 

Greg Biffle #69 kisses his girl with Cristina Grossu looking connected earlier climbing into his car during the Camping World Superstar Racing Experience lawsuit astatine Slinger Speedway connected July 10, 2021 successful Slinger, Wisconsin. (Logan Riely/SRX via Getty Images)

According to Graham, 3 radical aboard the Cessna C550 were licensed pilots but officials were not capable verify arsenic of Friday who was piloting the flight. 

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"This is the opening of precise agelong process and we volition not leap to immoderate conclusions portion connected country present successful North Carolina nor volition we leap to immoderate conclusions," Graham said of the entirety of the investigation

The level was owned by GB Aviation Leasing LLC, according to national aviation records. The institution is owned by Biffle, who was rated to alert helicopters and azygous and multi-engine planes.

Biffle, 55, was killed alongside his wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14. Three different radical killed onboard were identified arsenic Dennis Dutton, his lad Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.

Greg Biffle celebrates successful triumph lane aft winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car contention astatine Kansas Speedway successful Kansas City, Kansas, connected Oct. 3, 2010. (Orlin Wagner, File/AP Photo)

RACING WORLD REMEMBERS FORMER NASCAR DRIVER GREG BIFFLE AFTER DEADLY PLANE CRASH

The seven-person formation was making its mode to the Bahamas via Sarasota, Florida, erstwhile it crashed astatine Statesville Regional Airport, astir 45 miles northbound of Charlotte. NTSB Investigator-In-Charge Dan Baker said the level took disconnected astatine astir 10:05 a.m. ET and began to crook backmost to the airdrome 5 minutes aft instrumentality off. 

The level crashed astir 10 minutes aft departure.

Officials did not supply a origin and noted that upwind conditions were comparatively calm contempt airy rain. Graham said a preliminary study would beryllium released successful 30 days and afloat probe could instrumentality anyplace betwixt 12–18 months earlier a last study is released. 

Greg Biffle is introduced during operator introductions earlier a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car contention astatine Daytona International Speedway successful Daytona Beach, Florida, connected July 5, 2015. (Terry Renna, File/AP Photo)

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According to officials, the plane’s achromatic container was recovered from the clang country and is en way to Washington, D.C., wherever it volition beryllium analyzed.

"I tin besides corroborate that our squad was capable to find and retrieve the cockpit dependable recorder. The CVR, 1 of the achromatic boxes from the aircraft," Graham said, noting that the level did not person a formation information recorder but was not required to person 1 either.

Greg Biffle, 55, won much than 50 races crossed NASCAR’s 3 circuits, including 19 astatine the Cup Series level. He besides won the Trucks Series title successful 2000 and the Xfinity Series rubric successful 2002.

NASCAR called Biffle "a beloved subordinate of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a person to truthful many."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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