NTSB Media Briefing - Aircraft Crash, Statesville, NC

Briefing you today will be uh NTSB board member Michael Graham. That's spelled G R A H. And with him will be our investigator in charge, Dan Baker. B A K

R Good afternoon. My name is Michael

Good afternoon. My name is Michael Graham. I'm a board member with the

Graham. I'm a board member with the National Transportation Safety Board.

Joining me today is our investigator in charge, Dan Baker.

At approximately 10:15 a.m. Eastern

Standard Time yesterday morning, December 18th, 2025, a Cessna Citation 550 airplane

registration number November 257 Bravo Whiskey crashed while attempting to land on runway 28 at Statesville Regional Airport here in Statesville,

North Carolina.

There were seven souls on board the airplane.

Unfortunately, there were no survivors.

Before I go on, on behalf of the NTSB, I want to express our most sincere condolences to the families and loved

ones who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy.

We know those on board were deeply rooted in this community and we know it's uh especially tough on the families this time of year in this community. So,

you will be in our our hearts and our thoughts and our prayers during this time.

We do have a representative with us uh from the National Transportation Safety Board's Transportation Disaster Assistance Division here in Statesville in contact with the family members of

those who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy. They will be providing

terrible tragedy. They will be providing them with resources they will need to get through this tough time and also uh provide updates on our investigation.

Accurate information regarding fatalities and injuries stemming from this accident will be provided by the local medical examiner.

The NTSB go team arrived last night. So

today was our first day on scene, first full day.

I want to briefly give you some background on who we are, our processes and procedures, followed by some factual information about the ongoing investigation,

steps our team is taking here on the ground, and what you can expect from us in the coming days.

The NTSB is an independent federal agency charged by Congress to investigate all civil aviation accidents and significant accidents in the other

modes of transportation.

Our mission is to determine the probable cause of the accidents and issue safety recommendations to prevent future tragedies like this

from ever happening again.

We do not assign blame or liability.

We are here on scene to gather perishable evidence which our team methodically and systematically reviews throughout the course of the

investigation to determine the probable cause.

We have a team of 16 experts from the NTSB here with us being led by our investigator in charge, Dan Baker. Dan

is a senior accident investigator with more than 25 years experience at accident investigations both at the NTSB

and uh the Air Force.

Dan and our team are also supported by our deputy in investigator in charge Andrew Swick and he is currently at the

accident sign site at this time.

I want to emphasize this is the beginning of a very long process and we will not jump to any conclusions while we're here on scene in North Carolina.

nor will we speculate.

Earlier this morning, we held an organizational meeting where we establish establish parties to the investigation.

The NTSB offers party status to those we believe provide needed technical or specialized expertise to the investigation.

Eventually each investigative group which I will describe in a minute will produce a factual report which each of the parties will verify its accuracy.

Importantly however parties do not participate in the analysis analysis or the report writing.

Parties to the investigation so far are the Federal Aviation Administration and they are always a party to an aircraft accident.

and Textron Aviation Incorporated, which was the manufacturer of the aircraft.

Additionally, Prattton Whitney Canada, the engine manufacturer, is serving as technical adviser to the investigation.

As part of our investigation, we form groups to examine specific areas of interest in depth. These group include subject matter experts from the parties

of our investigation working in conjunction with our NTSB specialists on the factual portions of the investigation for this accident. We have established

the following parties.

First one is systems. They will examine components of the airplane's hydraulic, electrical, navigational, pneumatic and associated

uh systems together with instruments and elements of the flight control system.

The group will also examine examine the maintenance records.

Another group is power plants which will examine engines and the engine accessories.

And the final group we have at this time, although we can add groups if necessary, is operations, which will document the history of the flight and

the crew members flight experience, training, and certification.

A preliminary report of this accident is expected within 30 days.

However, a full investigation lasts 12 to 18 months before a final final report is uh released.

The information that we provide today is preliminary and it's subject to change during the course of this investigation.

I would now like to turn it over to our investigator in charge, Dan Baker, to share some factual information. Dan.

Thank you, Member Graham.

[cough and clears throat] The aircraft was manufactured in 1981 by the Cessna Aircraft Company and it was

registered to GB Aviation Leasing LLC.

The airplane had taken off at approximately 10:05 a.m. Eastern

Standard Time about 10 minutes prior to the accident. The airplane had departed

the accident. The airplane had departed from runway 28 at the Statesville Regional Airport.

Preliminary ADSB data showed the airplane made an initial left turn to the west followed by another left turn back to the east towards the airplane

airport, excuse me, towards the airport approximately 5 minutes after takeoff.

The airplane then flew a left base turn to runway 28. The initial point of impact was a runway light stansion located about 1,800 ft from the runway

threshold.

[clears throat] The airplane subsequently impacted trees, two other runway light stansions, and the airport perimeter fence short of the runway threshold before coming to

rest near the runway threshold.

The airplane also came to rest oriented on an easterly heading.

Post impact fire consumed the majority of the fuselage and the inboard wing sections. All four corners of the

sections. All four corners of the airplane and flight control surfaces have been identified in the wreckage and the debris field. Both engines were present with the main wreckage. At the

time of the accident, visual meteorological conditions prevailed with drizzle and broken ceilings uh at 1,200

and 2,200 ft as well as a 5,000 ft ceiling uh were present. The wind was calm with five statute miles visibility.

I will now hand it over to member Graham for any questions.

Few more things before I take questions. Uh,

we are analyzing radar, ADSB data, video footage, witness statements, audio recordings, and more as part of our investigation.

We will also begin coordinating wreckage removal as part of our standard investigation process. and we can move

investigation process. and we can move the wreckage so we can move the wreckage to a safe location, make sure it's secure and so we can follow up and conduct further analysis.

I can also confirm that our team was able to locate and recover the cockpit voice recorder, the CVR, one of the black boxes from the aircraft. The

aircraft, as we know, it only had uh the CVR did not have a flight data recorder.

um nor was it required to have either one of these for this flight.

Uh and that uh cockpit voice recorder is in route back to Washington DC right now to be analyzed.

I'd like to ask if anyone in the public has any photos, videos, door cram or video, debris, or were

witnesses to this a accident, we ask that you please contact us via email at witnessb.gov.

witnessb.gov.

Again, that is witnessb.gov.

We will provide further updates as they become available.

Our team will rem remain here on the ground in North Carolina in North Carolina as long as we believe it is necessary to gather evidence for our investigation.

You can follow the NTSB on X at NTSB_newsroom or on our website at ntsb.gov for the latest information.

Finally, I would like to give a heartfelt thanks to the uh in in gratitude to the first responders who responded to this accident as well as

the medical examiner's office, the airport director, local and state law enforcement, and all those who have been assisting

our investigation since before we arrived and as we arrived here on scene.

I know they've been working very hard.

We appreciate them securing the site for us and keeping it safe while we are here and we appreciate all they have done. I

will now take a few questions, but before I do, I will uh I would like to ask you uh to raise your hand. When I

call on you, please state your name and your affiliation right here.

>> Chris Benvidas with CBS News. Just a

couple of questions. Do we know who was piloting the aircraft?

Chris's question is uh do we know who was piloting the the aircraft? Uh at

this time we have been unable to verify uh who was flying the airplane. We do

know uh three of the occupants did possess a pilot's license, but we have been unable to verify that verify that at this time, but that's one of the things we're working on.

>> And just a couple more questions.

>> Uh one followup, please.

>> One followup. Okay. Was there a mayday call?

>> Uh the question was, was there a Mayday call? We are not aware that there was a

call? We are not aware that there was a mayday call right here.

>> Jordan Bianc athletic u the plane returned tried to return back to to land. Do we know why that happened? Was

land. Do we know why that happened? Was

it a mechanical issue or anything of that nature?

>> The question is uh we believe the plane was turning back to the airport immediately maybe for some kind of issue. Um at this point we we are not

issue. Um at this point we we are not aware if uh there was an actual issue or not. We are studying a lot of things. We

not. We are studying a lot of things. We

are trying to get recordings uh from the various frequencies that the aircraft may have been on and um any other witness statements that may have heard anything on the common frequency right there.

>> Gary Robertson, Associated Press, have you what can you tell us about any indications of any problems with the plane as it was going out and coming back in? Uh the question is uh what can

back in? Uh the question is uh what can we tell you about if we if we know of anything of any issues or problems with the airplane as it was going out and that it returned to the airport. Um at

this point we haven't been able to verify anything. Uh we've seen things in

verify anything. Uh we've seen things in the media and stuff like that, but that's not verification. We're talking

to witnesses and we're trying to uh look at the or listen to recordings and whatever to see if there was any issue, but we don't we haven't been able to verify anything at this point.

>> Right there.

Charlotte Observer. What was the duration of time from takeoff to uh to the crash?

>> The question is, what was the duration of time from takeoff to the crash? Was

approximately 10 minutes?

>> Right there.

>> Chris Peterson, WXI TV. Um, have you had the opportunity to interview witnesses yet? And what kind of information have

yet? And what kind of information have you been able to garner from those witnesses?

>> The question is, is have we had an opportunity to uh interview any of the witnesses at this point? and what kind of information have we received? At this

point, we are doing some interviews right now on site. Uh we're looking for additional witnesses. That's why I've

additional witnesses. That's why I've put that out during the briefing. Uh but

we don't have anything to share at that.

It's much too early to talk about any of that and that would be going go into our analysis section. Let me come over here.

analysis section. Let me come over here.

Anybody over here?

>> Jen Cardo, Queen City News. Was this

C550 citation jet single pilot or two pilots approved or required? The

question is uh was the citation uh 550 single pilot or two pilot approved? Uh

the the answer is both. Okay. It it

depends. I believe that at this point there is a waiver that you can have to single pilot operate that aircraft and many many pilots do of this type of

aircraft do uh fly this aircraft single pilot with the waiver and it can also be flown with a crew.

Spectrum News. Did the weather play any role in this accident?

>> The question is, did the weather play any role in this accident? Well, the

weather was it was visual flight rules, but there were low ceilings out there and there was heavy drizzle at the time.

Uh, so that is one of the three things that we really mainly look at. We look

at the people operating the aircraft. We

look at the aircraft itself. And then we look at the environment. And the weather is one of those we look at and will look at very closely. Let me come over here >> with WSOC

off the end of the runway into that golf course area, that roadway right there.

Can you talk about some of the damage? I

saw your guys out um looking in that area today. Some of the things you found

area today. Some of the things you found out there.

>> Sure. The question is uh about uh what is some of the damage we've seen uh uh just short of the uh runway 28 that we were looking at today and continue to

look at. Um as Dan had said uh the first

look at. Um as Dan had said uh the first contact was with some of the approach lighting system. There were several

lighting system. There were several approach lighting systems coming to that uh lights coming to that runway that were hit by the aircraft. Uh there was

also uh a tree line uh on the edge of the golf course before hitting the uh service road or the the aircraft perimeter road out there uh that many

tree limbs and the trees were uh knocked down and broken off at that point.

>> Just quick follow did it hit the ground prior to getting to the runway? Do we

know that happened?

>> Uh the question is did the aircraft hit the ground prior to getting to the runway? The the response to that is yes,

runway? The the response to that is yes, it did hit the ground before getting to the runway >> outside the fence of the airport. Would

that be accurate? You said

>> um >> the the the outside the airport at at the fence is what the question is. It's

right in that vicinity is is where the witness marks are. So, we're still evaluating that at this time. right

here.

>> Katie Soul, WBTV. Was the proximity of the trees to the runway believed to be a factor at all in the plane's attempt to make an emergency landing?

>> Um, the question is, was the proximity of the trees to the airport a factor in the plane's ability to land at the airport? Uh, the airport actually sits a

airport? Uh, the airport actually sits a little bit up on and on the hill on the plateau. So, the trees would have been

plateau. So, the trees would have been um in line with the lighting above the ground. So we we do have witnesses that

ground. So we we do have witnesses that said the aircraft came in very low.

Okay. And he over here right in the back.

>> Dan with fire communications. The plane

took off on runway 10 by what we've been able to see online and it came back to land at runway 28. Have you talked to the airport director to see why there

was any reason he didn't land on runway 10 and made the turn to go to 28? So the

question is the aircraft took off on runway 10 uh and when it came back it landed on runway 28. Um we are still

evaluating why uh as we looked at the winds uh either direction would be appropriate. Uh you normally want to

appropriate. Uh you normally want to land into the wind. There was reported no wind at that time. So that's one of the things we're looking at at this point. Uh it's it's going to be some

point. Uh it's it's going to be some time to get to that. Have you been able I'm sorry Dave Barity with Have you been able to determine if there were possibly maybe some other aircraft in the area

that forced him to make a goound?

>> Question is uh were there maybe some other aircraft in the area that forced him to go around? At this time we're not aware of any but we're looking at any radar ADSB data. I don't think we saw

any initially on the ADSB data out there that there were other aircraft. Um

that's all I have on that at this time.

Blue Jack Observer. Just a followup question. What

Observer. Just a followup question. What

was the length of the debris?

>> Uh the length uh the question is what was the length of the debris field? Uh I

think we believe the first contact was 1,800 1,800 ft from the approach end of the runway. So it's fairly long. Uh and

the runway. So it's fairly long. Uh and

it is scattered wide and out. So it's

it's going to take some time to document all of that. Uh we were unable to get our drone launched today with the high winds. So we want to get that digitally

winds. So we want to get that digitally documented with the drone here hopefully tomorrow and we'll get a better idea of how wide and how much debris is out

there. Right there

there. Right there >> Fox 8 News. What type of information might witness statements or people providing pictures and videos give you that you wouldn't be able to find

otherwise? Uh the question is what uh

otherwise? Uh the question is what uh what kind of statements or evidence might witnesses or videos be able to provide us? Uh videos sometimes will

provide us? Uh videos sometimes will tell us a lot. Uh give us additional information about uh maybe where the aircraft first struck uh the trees or

something like that. Uh additional video on approach would be really uh helpful to us to get an idea of how high or low that aircraft was. uh witnesses

sometimes with something they heard, something they saw, uh things like that.

We've we've received a lot of things, but we were have been unable to verify any of it at this point and any of it as being credible right there.

>> Robertson with AP. Uh there have been some media reports about a one of the victims texting a family member saying quote, "We're in trouble." Are you aware

of that text uh its veracity andor is it playing a role in your investigation?

>> Question is uh there may have been a report of somebody texting out from the aircraft that they were in trouble. Um

at this time we're not aware of that. If

if somebody is aware that of a text or anything like that, uh please make us aware of it. Let us know via email and then we'll contact you. Same same with the videos. If you have a video, contact

the videos. If you have a video, contact us and we'll give you a way to send it to us because sometimes those videos don't always come across with a straight email. Right there,

email. Right there, do you have an ETA when the airport will be open?

>> Question is, do we have an ETA of when the airport will open? At this time, I I can't tell you that. Uh like I said, we we still are in the process of

documenting the accident site and uh it'll be at least through tomorrow at this point right here.

>> Athletic, you said some witnesses had said the plane was coming in very low.

Um what else have witnesses said about anything they may have seen? Uh question

is uh I made a mention of some witnesses talked about the aircraft being very low and uh you're asking what what have uh other witnesses said. Uh at this point

we haven't been able I I haven't been able to speak with our team on that and it's uh information that we want to first verify before we're we're definitely sure. I mean, we're able to

definitely sure. I mean, we're able to verify the aircraft was low because of the contact with the approach lining and the trees, but the rest of it we haven't been able to verify at this point. Two

more questions right there.

>> A follow up. This specific type of Cessna, have there been past issues or crash investigations with this specific type of plane? Maybe how many? How

prevalent?

>> Uh the question is, uh have we had similar uh investigations and crashes of this aircraft and everything? Um we do a lot of crash investigation out there and

there's quite a few every year. Um I say this this aircraft has been around a long time and there are quite a few of them still in service. So I I would say

I you know aviation's very safe and uh I don't see any specific issues with this aircraft that are significant compared to any others at this point.

>> Last one.

>> You may have answered this earlier. How

old is the aircraft itself? Uh, how old is the aircraft is the question. It was

uh manufactured in 1981.

Um, and there's a lot of aircraft out there that are a lot older than that.

You know, as long as you keep up with your maintenance and inspection programs that all these aircraft should be on, uh, they can fly for quite a long time.

Okay, that's all I have. Thank you.

>> Thank you. Thank you.