Audio recording of fatal plane crash near Charlottesville, Virginia

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash of a single-engine plane near Charlottesville, Va.

In a post on X, the agency said a Beech V35B plane (tail number N2UZ) crashed in northern Albemarle County on Saturday. Local news reports state the crash site is located just off East Monacan Drive. The pilot, the only person aboard the plane, died in the accident.

An audio recording of communications between Charlottesville Airport and the pilot posted to the Internet provided some details before the crash. The pilot reported an emergency 10 miles south of Charlottesville's airport.

“Declaring an emergency,” the pilot reported. “I’m 10 miles south. Just lost my engine. I hope I make the airport.”

Charlottesville airport tower gave Highway 29 and a few golf courses in the area as alternate landing spots if he didn’t reach the airport.

“2 Uniform Zulu is not gonna make it,” the pilot reported. “I’m gonna go for a field in front of me. Three or four miles south of the airport.”

Watching air traffic control radar in the tower, Charlottesville controllers asked two pilots flying in the local area to begin searching for the aircraft on the ground. One of those aircraft was the Civil Air Patrol trained in search and rescue.

Fire and rescue units found the aircraft later. The plane was destroyed by a post-crash fire.

The plane is registered to Brent E. Hippert of Titusville, Fla., according to Federal Aviation Administration records. The pilot was enroute to Charlottesville from Richmond County Airport, N.C.

Premier Private Jets purchases Aviation Sales Inc. FBO in Dayton

Premier Private Jets, a provider of charter flights, airport services, and maintenance, is significantly expanding its presence at its Dayton, Ohio, hub with the acquisition of Aviation Sales Incorporated (ASI), a fixed-base operator (FBO) at James M. Cox Dayton International Airport. The announcement, made on Thursday, marks a strategic move to enhance service capabilities and customer experience in the region.

“With the acquisition of ASI, we'll have more capacity and capability for maintenance customers, local operators, and transient traffic,” stated Premier's CEO Josh Birmingham in a company press release. He emphasized the importance of ASI's experienced staff, adding, "An FBO is more than fuel trucks and a lounge. It is the dedicated employees who understand safe and proper aircraft handling and create a great customer experience and repeat business. We will have that with ASI."

This acquisition builds upon Premier's commitment to Dayton, following its late 2023 purchase of a major maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) base previously slated for closure. Premier successfully revitalized the MRO, preserving jobs and establishing a comprehensive service center offering airframe, engine, avionics, paint, and interior services. The MRO boasts a growing network of upgrade supplier relationships, featuring the latest Garmin and Universal flight deck systems, Blackhawk engine upgrades, and Raisbeck modifications.

The existing, smaller FBO at the MRO base will be integrated into the larger ASI facility this month, offering a broader range of services to customers. ASI, with 67 years of experience at Dayton, brings to Premier a substantial 20,000 square feet of hangar and office space alongside 195,000 square feet of ramp space.

The acquired facility will be led by General Manager Matthew Spaugy. Beyond serving its existing clientele, Premier plans to leverage the expanded capabilities to support larger, commercial-sized aircraft, including those anticipated for sports team charters visiting Dayton for the upcoming NCAA Final Four in March. To accommodate these larger aircraft, Premier is investing in equipment such as belt loaders, air stairs, large de-icing equipment, and additional ground power units.

The new facility will become a key component of the PremierFBO network, joining its existing location at Oakland County International Airport in Pontiac, Mich. Premier also maintains a smaller MRO facility in Stuart, Fla., where the company is headquartered.

New piggy online slot game exclusively live with DraftKings and Golden Nugget

The lovable pig has been a popular theme when it comes to slot machines and online casinos. Play'n GO, a leading game supplier based in Malta announced Wednesday they have released a new addition to its Piggy Blitz online slot game series, Piggy Blitz Disco Gold.

As the disco ball spins, watch them collect Cash Coins and pile up Instant Rewards in a high-stakes dance-off. The groove never stops with a soundtrack that pumps up the excitement and visuals that light up the screen.

For now, Piggy Blitz Disco Gold brings its vibrant disco-themed gameplay exclusively to DraftKings and Golden Nugget online casinos. With a 6x4 screen layout, this slot invites players onto a neon-lit dance floor alongside groovy, disco-loving piggies, offering a blend of classic slot mechanics with exciting new features.

Prepare to be immersed in an 80s-inspired disco atmosphere, where opportunities for substantial wins are coupled with engaging bonus features. Piggy Blitz Disco Gold utilizes Cash Coins, Piggy Banks, and the coveted Gold Piggy Feature, ensuring dynamic gameplay with every spin. This isn't just another slot game; it's a high-energy experience designed to keep players on the edge of their seats.

Key features of Piggy Blitz Disco Gold include:

Cash Coins: Accumulate these to win prizes up to 1,000 times your initial stake, adding an immediate reward layer to the base game.

Gold Piggy Feature: Trigger this feature for the chance to unlock significant prizes, with potential payouts reaching up to 5,000 times your stake.

Free Spins with Choice: Players have the unique option to select their preferred free spin mode, choosing between Blitz Spinz, Free Spinz, or Mystery Spinz, each offering its distinct spin on gameplay.

Don’t miss out on the chance to experience this exciting new slot release. Join the party, hit the reels, and discover the potential for big wins within the disco-infused world of Piggy Blitz Disco Gold. Start your dance-off today.

Legal Online Casinos in The U.S.

With more than 350 premium titles in its portfolio, Play'n GO delivers games to regulated casino operators in more than 30 Jurisdictions.

Seven states in the U.S. have regulated online casinos, they are New Jersey, Michigan, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and Rhode Island. In the meantime, all 50 states have been flooded with sweepstakes casinos over recent years.

Sweepstakes casino operators aren’t regulated, licensed, or subject to gaming taxes. These websites are operated by companies outside the United States, also referred to as offshore websites. These sites have become a multibillion-dollar industry operating in a legally “gray area” of the United States.

Social sweepstakes casino platform SweepX now live at GoldRushCity.com

Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) announced Monday that its pioneering social sweepstakes casino platform SweepX is now live with new partner Primero under the goldrushcity.com brand.

Tailored to meet the growing demand in the U.S. sweepstakes market, SweepX offers a dual-wallet system, prize-redemption management, and GiG’s advanced AI-assisted content management technology, giving operators a significant edge. This revolutionary solution has been crafted to drive growth and boost player engagement across social sweepstakes gaming. SweepX delivers a comprehensive turnkey solution for social casinos, combining market-leading front-end capabilities with a bespoke CMS and tailored content integrations. Designed to empower operators to accelerate online growth, SweepX offers unparalleled speed to market.

Now live, SweepX seamlessly integrates GiG’s proven iGaming platform—operational across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America—with a custom-built sweepstakes front-end, an AI-enhanced gamification layer, and one of the largest sweepstakes casino content libraries in the industry.

Sector Growth

The sweepstakes gaming sector saw tremendous growth in 2023 and continues to rise, with the market valued at $5.6 billion. Projections estimate the sector will grow at a +43% CAGR, reaching $11.4 billion by 2025, according to data compiled by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG).

Richard Carter, chief executive officer at GiG said; “The launch of SweepX marks a pivotal leap forward for GiG, strategically leveraging our pioneering technology within online social casino gaming and positioning us with a leading position in the market. The overwhelmingly positive reaction to SweepX since its announcement has strengthened our belief in its potential to revolutionize the Social Sweepstakes Casino market, with an emphasis on providing the most entertaining and safe environments for players and operators alike, further fueling our ambitious strategic plans for growth.”

Barry Rutherford, chief executive officer at Primero, added; “GiG’s world-class platform provides us with the ability to deliver a richer variety of content and an unrivaled player experience. Its flexibility and innovation ensure that we can adapt to the ever-evolving demands of the market while offering seamless performance and engagement for our players. By combining GiG’s cutting-edge technology with our unique and highly effective player acquisition strategy, we’re setting a new benchmark for excellence in the U.S. market. Furthermore, this partnership positions us ideally to scale and succeed in iGaming markets worldwide, leveraging GiG’s expertise to deliver an exceptional end-to-end gaming experience across all touchpoints."