North Carolina plane crash: NASCAR star Greg Biffle, family reportedly dead after Cessna 550 goes down

NASCAR star Greg Biffle and his family have died after his private jet burst into flames after crashing in the United States.

Biffle, 55, was with his wife, their two children and others on a Cessna Citation C550 aircraft registered to a company he reportedly runs when it went down at about 10:20am (local time) at Statesville Regional Airport, located just north of the greater Charlotte area. Biffle was a resident of nearby Mooresville.

It is understood that an incident occurred shortly after takeoff, with the pilot then circling back, attempting to conduct an emergency landing.

While attempting to land, the plane appears to have hit nearby trees. Video of the crash emerged online shortly after the plane went down, showing the fiery crash on the runway.

According to a statement from NASCAR, the crash claimed seven victims in all, including Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, 14, and son Ryder,5, pictured inset.

“Greg was more than a champion driver,” the statement said. “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.

In a joint statement (via Fox Sports), the families directly affected said they were “devastated by the loss of our loved ones.”

“This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words,” said the families.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which arrived at the scene shortly after the crash, said it will participate in an investigation led by the National Transportation Safety Board, which said its team was set to arrive at the airport later in the day.

The plane had taken off from the airport shortly after 10am, before turning around and attempting to land there. Footage from the scene (via WBTV) showed emergency personnel responding to fiery wreckage near a runway.

Weather may have played a role in the crash, according to local media, which reported adverse conditions at the time including drizzle and a low cloud ceiling.

“We were like, ‘Oh my gosh! That’s way too low,’” a witness who had been playing golf near the airport said. “It was scary.”

The other victims in the crash, according to the families’ statement, included Craig Wadsworth, a well-known figure in the NASCAR community who had worked for many years as a motor home driver. Dennis Dutton, reportedly the plane’s pilot, and his son Jack were also said to have died in the crash.

Weather may have played a role in the crash, according to local media, which reported adverse conditions at the time including drizzle and a low cloud ceiling.

NASCAR has its primary headquarters in Charlotte, and the vast majority of its Cup Series teams are based in the region. Biffle spent most of his career driving for Roush Fenway Racing, now called Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. In a statement Thursday, RFK Racing described Biffle as a “cherished member of our racing family.”

Biffle is understood to have been a very experienced pilot, having been involved in multiple recuse operations, most recently flying the jet to provide assistance during the response to Hurricane Helene.

Biffle, who was five days from his 56th birthday, began racing in NASCAR’s lower rungs in 1989 and drove in the top-tier Cup Series from 2002 to 2016, and again in 2022. In addition to his 19 wins, he had 92 top-five Cup Series finishes and was the 2005 runner-up for the season-long crown. Before that, he won rookie of the year honors and season titles in NASCAR’s Xfinity and Truck Series circuits. He went on to be named one of NASCAR’s 75 greatest drivers

with The Washington Post