Seven people died when a Cessna Citation 550 crashed shortly after departing Statesville Regional Airport, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina and their two children. The NTSB is leading the investigation, has recovered the cockpit voice recorder and maintenance logs, and has conducted witness interviews. Preliminary tracking shows the jet left about 10 a.m., did not climb above 2,000 feet and turned back toward the airport; weather at the time of the crash has not been confirmed. Authorities continue to investigate and verify who was piloting the aircraft.
Former NASCAR Driver Greg Biffle, Family Among Seven Killed in Private Jet Crash Near Statesville, N.C.
Greg Biffle walks on pit lane during qualifying for a NASCAR Cup Series race in 2022. - James Gilbert/Getty Images
Seven people, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina and their two children, Ryder and Emma, were killed when a small private jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, authorities said.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation. Family members confirmed the deaths in a joint statement: the loss has left them "heartbroken beyond words," and they asked for privacy while they grieve.
Victims and Reactions
In addition to the Biffle family, investigators and family statements identified three other passengers as Dennis Dutton, his son Jack Dutton, and longtime NASCAR community member Craig Wadsworth. The crash occurred shortly after 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, Iredell County officials said.
Public figures responded with condolences. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein called the news "heartbreaking" and praised Biffle's humanitarian efforts after Hurricane Helene. RFK Racing and NASCAR said they were devastated, noting Biffle's impact on the sport; the racing series lists him among NASCAR's 75 greatest drivers with 19 career wins.
What Investigators Have Found
NTSB board member Michael Graham said investigators have recovered the aircraft's cockpit voice recorder and obtained maintenance logs. The agency has conducted witness interviews and is working to confirm exactly who was at the controls; officials noted they are fairly confident about the identity of the left-seat occupant but must verify all details before release.
Aboard the aircraft, one passenger reportedly sent a text message to a family member reading, 'Emergency landing.' Investigators have not publicly identified who sent that message.
Witness Account
A witness who works at the airport described seeing flames after a loud boom shook the hangar area. The witness, identified only as Victoria, said: '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.'
Flight Tracking, Weather and Airport Details
Preliminary tracking data from FlightAware indicates a Cessna Citation 550 departed Statesville Regional Airport around 10 a.m. from runway 10, flew roughly five miles, then made an almost immediate left turn back toward the airport. The aircraft did not climb above 2,000 feet before the accident.
An automated weather station at the airport reported low clouds, light rain and visibility under three miles about 80 minutes after the crash; it is not yet clear whether those conditions existed at the time of departure.
Statesville Regional Airport is an uncontrolled field about 45 miles north of Charlotte, meaning pilots self-announce positions on a common frequency rather than operating under a control tower. The airport remained closed following the accident.
Ongoing Investigation
The NTSB continues to gather evidence. Officials have emphasized that their work is ongoing and that factual confirmation will precede further conclusions about causes or responsibility. Family statements, official releases and witness reports were used in this account; CNN and local authorities provided contributing details.
