STATESVILLE, NC – A devastating plane crash occurred at Statesville Regional Airport on Thursday morning, claiming the lives of seven individuals, including former NASCAR star Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their two children, Emma and Ryder. The Cessna C550 business jet crashed around 10:20 a.m. shortly after departing the airport, which is located approximately 45 miles north of Charlotte. Emergency responders were on the scene, but officials confirmed there were no survivors due to the severity of the impact and subsequent fire.
The aircraft, registered to GB Aviation Leasing, a company owned by Biffle, had taken off from Statesville Regional Airport and was reportedly en route to Florida before an apparent attempt to return to the airport. Flight tracking data indicates the plane departed around 10:05 a.m. and began to turn back towards the airport approximately five minutes later. Tragically, the jet did not make it back to the runway, crashing into trees and light poles about a third of a mile from its intended landing site.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken the lead in the investigation into the cause of the crash. Investigators have recovered the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder, often referred to as the “black box,” which is being sent for analysis. While preliminary reports may be available within 30 days, a comprehensive investigation is expected to take 12 to 18 months. Officials have stated that it remains unclear who was piloting the aircraft at the time of the crash, despite three individuals on board possessing pilot licenses.
Among the victims were Greg Biffle, 55, who held ratings for helicopters and single and multi-engine planes, and Dennis Dutton, an airline transport pilot. Dutton’s son, Jack, who had a private pilot’s license for single-engine planes, was also on board, as was Biffle’s friend Craig Wadsworth. The tragic loss extends to Biffle’s family, with his wife Cristina and their children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, also perishing in the crash. A text message from Cristina Biffle to her mother reportedly stated, “emergency landing,” before communication was lost.
Statesville Regional Airport remained closed following the incident as the NTSB conducted its investigation. While the exact cause of the crash is still under scrutiny, factors such as weather conditions, which included drizzle and cloudy skies, are being examined. Investigators are also reviewing pilot communications and witness statements to piece together the events leading up to the fatal accident. The NTSB has emphasized that the investigation is in its early stages, and no conclusions will be drawn prematurely.
