STATESVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — An investigation is underway after a plane crash at a North Carolina airport resulted in the deaths of seven people, including famous NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.

Shortly after 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, a Cessna 550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed. One day later, investigators with the agency remain on the scene of the crash to document the wreckage, collect data and interview witnesses.

Officials with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol later confirmed Thursday that they believe Biffle, his wife and two children were killed in the Cessna 550 crash, as well as three other passengers. A joint statement from the Biffle, Grossu, Dutton and Lunders families said the crash victims were Greg Biffle, Cristina Biffle, Emma Biffle, Ryder Biffle, Dennis Dutton, Jack Dutton and Craig Wadsworth.

NASCAR LEGEND GREG BIFFLE AND HIS FAMILY KILLED IN PLANE CRASH AT NORTH CAROLINA AIRPORT

A preliminary report is expected within 30 days. The final report, which is likely to be released in one to two years, will outline the probable cause of the crash and any contributing factors, according to the NTSB.

The NTSB held a media briefing at 3 p.m. Friday regarding the tragic incident.

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During the briefing, NTSB board member Michael Graham confirmed that the Cessna Citation 550 with registration of N257BW, previously reported to belong to NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. Graham said the airplane crashed at 10:15 a.m. while attempting to land at runway 28 at the Statesville Regional Airport.

“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,” Graham said of the NTSB’s role in the investigation.

Officials said they were able to recover the cockpit voice recorder, also known as a “black box,” which has been sent to the nation’s capital for analysis.

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The NTSB investigator in charge, Dan Baker, said the Cessna aircraft had taken off from Statesville Regional Airport at 10:05 a.m., just 10 minutes before the accident.

“Preliminary[…] data showed the airplane made an initial left turn to the west, followed by another left turn back to the east towards the airport. Approximately five minutes after takeoff, the airplane then flew a left base turn to runway 28,” Baker said.

Baker said the plane’s initial point of impact was a runway light stand located approximately 1,800 feet from the runway threshold, before it hit trees, two other runway light stands and the runway fence.

Investigators do not yet know who was piloting the aircraft at the time of the crash, but three of the plane’s occupants had a pilot’s license.

Officials with NTSB request that anyone with photo or video evidence of the crash reach out to the NTSB directly.