May 15, 2009 (United Press International) -- A U.S. Senate subcommittee will examine the safety practices of the regional airline industry next month, the panel's chairman says.

Sen. Byron L. Dorgan, D-N.D., announced the move on the final day of National Transportation Safety Board hearings into the crash of a Continental Connection flight near Buffalo, N.Y.

Dorgan says he was "stunned by what I've seen and heard on the evidence" of the crash which killed 50 people, The Washington Post reported Friday..

"There are so many things that are troublesome," Dorgan said. "It calls for a real serious investigation."

The crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 in February was the first fatal commercial aviation accident in two years.

The flight was operated for Continental by Colgan Air, a unit of Pinnacle Airlines. (NASDAQ:PNCL)

Dorgan said he met with the families of the victims Thursday.