Former NASCAR driver and 6 others dead after private jet crashes in North Carolina

CNN

By Devon M. Sayers, Pete Muntean, Dianne Gallagher, CNN

Statesville, North Carolina (CNN) — The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating after seven people – including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle – died when a small private jet crashed shortly after takeoff in Statesville, North Carolina, this week, investigators said Saturday.

Biffle, his wife Cristina, and two children, Ryder and Emma, were among those killed in Thursday’s crash, according to a statement from family members.

“This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words,” the families of those killed said in a joint statement. Adding that “each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives,” the families also asked for privacy.

Three other passengers in addition to Biffle and his family were aboard the Cessna C550, which “crashed on return to landing following departure from Statesville Regional Airport,” according to the National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation.

Dennis Dutton and his son Jack, as well as longtime NASCAR community member Craig Wadsworth, were identified as the other passengers, according to the statement.

The crash happened shortly after 10:15 a.m. Thursday, Iredell County Chief Deputy Bill Hamby told CNN.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein said the news was “heartbreaking,” adding in a post on X, “Greg Biffle lived a life of courage and compassion and stepped up for western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. My heart goes out to all those who lost a loved one in this tragic crash.”

Digital creator and motorsports streamer Garrett Mitchell, who goes by the name “Cleetus McFarland” on his channel, said in a post that Biffle, his wife and two children were flying to see him and his family when the crash occurred.

Biffle and Mitchell were friends who conducted rescue missions after Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina and sometimes posted videos together. Biffle was a licensed pilot. It is not yet clear who was flying the aircraft.

Biffle is considered one of NASCAR’s 75 greatest drivers with 19 wins, according to a news release from the racing series.

His longtime racing team, RFK Racing, said they were “devastated” by the loss of a “cherished member of our racing family.”

NASCAR also said it’s devastated over the news of Biffle’s death, saying in a statement he “was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many. His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport.”

A witness who works at the airport told CNN she saw the plane on fire after the crash.

“My desk faces where it happened. I was just sitting here, and then I heard a loud boom, and our hangar shook a little. I got up to look and that’s when I saw the flames and fire everywhere,” said Victoria, who works for an aviation company and asked to be identified only by her first name due to privacy concerns.

NTSB investigators looking into who flew the plane

The NTSB conducted witness interviews as part of its investigation Saturday, board member Michael Graham said at a Saturday morning news conference. Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder from the plane and obtained its maintenance logs.

Graham said the agency was still working to confirm who was piloting the plane when it crashed.

The NTSB has “a lot of really good information, and we’re fairly confident with at least the left seat occupant,” he said.

But “we need to verify that, right, we need to be accurate in what we do,” he added. Graham said that one passenger on board sent a text message to a family member saying, “Emergency landing.” He didn’t identify which passenger sent the text.

Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte, is an uncontrolled airport with no control tower. Pilots are required to self-report their position on and near the airport using a common radio frequency.

The airport remains closed, according to the airport manager.

Preliminary flight tracking data shows a Cessna Citation 550 left Statesville Regional Airport around 10 a.m. Thursday from runway 10, traveled about five miles, then made a near-immediate left turn back toward the airport. The plane did not climb higher than 2,000 feet, according to FlightAware.

Low clouds, light rain, and visibility of less than three miles were reported about 80 minutes after the crash, according to an automated weather station at the airport. It is not clear if these conditions were present when the plane crashed.

“The Statesville Regional Airport provides corporate aviation facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams,” according to the city website.

CNN’s Caroll Alvarado, David Close and Zoe Sottile contributed to this report.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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