Update to an earlier report: This article includes new information about a story we previously covered. Read our earlier report.
NTSB investigators removed wreckage Wednesday from the wooded site of a fatal plane crash near Gwinnett County Airport. The airport’s air traffic control tower had reported engine trouble before the aircraft went down Tuesday evening.
The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of Old Athens Road. The single-engine plane had taken off from the airport about 90 minutes earlier.
Two people were aboard. zPaper founder and chief technology officer Eric Stephens died, while the second person survived. Investigators have not said whether Stephens was piloting the plane.
Neighbor Seth Bielstein found the crashed aircraft and called 911. He said first responders arrived within a few minutes.
The NTSB is investigating what caused the crash. Although engine trouble was reported beforehand, investigators have not determined its cause. zPaper COO Ken Schumacher confirmed Stephens’ death in a statement and said the company continues serving customers without interruption.
Marcus Jones
News Now Georgia
