Retired NASCAR star Greg Biffle alongside wife Cristina Grossu Biffle, daughter Emma, son Ryder and three others were killed in an aviation crash on Thursday morning at Statesville Regional Airport north of Charlotte, North Carolina.
First Sergeant Chris Knox of the North Carolina Highway Patrol first confirmed the death of the Biffle family and added it was ‘one of the worst crashes’ he had ever seen.
“We can tell you at this point that seven confirmed occupants on the aircraft are deceased,” Knox said “… The only person we can confirm is a Mr. Greg Biffle was one of those seven deceased occupants.”
However, he also later said the victims ‘include Mr. Greg Biffle and his immediate family,’ which would be confirmed shortly thereafter.
Garrett Mitchell, better known as YouTuber Cleetus McFarland, first stated on his social media channels that the Biffle family was on board the plane and died in the incident.
“Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder were on that plane… because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us. We are devastated. I’m so sorry to share this.”
Biffle and Mitchell had become close friends over the past five years, bonding over natural disaster relief efforts, and the latter’s efforts to become a NASCAR driver himself with sporadic ARCA starts at Daytona, Talladega and Bristol.
A joint statement was issued by the Biffle, Grossu, Dutton and Lunders families confirming those lost in the incident:
“We are devastated by the loss of our loved ones. This tragedy has left all our families heartbroken beyond words. Greg and Cristina were devoted parents and active philanthropists whose lives were centered around their young son Ryder and Greg’s daughter Emma (mother – Nicole Lunders). Emma was a wonderful human being with a kind soul who was loved by many people. Ryder was an active, curious and infinitely joyful child.
“Dennis Dutton and his son Jack were deeply loved as well, and their loss is felt by all who knew them. Craig Wadsworth was beloved by many in the NASCAR community and will be missed by those who knew him. Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives.
“We ask for privacy, compassion and understanding as we grieve and begin to process this unimaginable loss. We are gratefyl or the kindness and support that has been extended to our families during this incredibly difficult time. At this moment, our focus is on honoring their lives and supporting one another.”
NASCAR also released a statement on Thursday.
“NASCAR is devastated by the tragic loss of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, son Ryder, Craig Wadsworth and Dennis and Jack Dutton in a fatal plane crash.
“Greg 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.
“On the track, Greg’s talent and tenacity earned him championships in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, as well as numerous wins and accolades in the NASCAR Cup Series. Beyond his racing career, he gave of himself for the betterment of our community. Most notably, Greg spent countless hours of his time helping the citizens of North Carolina during the disasters that followed Hurricane Helene. His tireless work saved lives. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Greg’s entire family, friends, and all who were touched by his life.”
Biffle spent the entirety of his full-time NASCAR career with Roush Racing, now known as RFK Racing, which also issued a statement mourning the loss.
The incident occurred at 10:15 a.m. at the airport located 45 miles north of Charlotte, North Carolina, one of the regional facilities used by a plurality of organizations and individuals within the industry.
Flight tracking data shows the jet departed Statesville at approximately 10:06 a.m. and reached a maximum altitude of 4,300 feet by 10:08 a.m. but began to descend a mile from where it departed.
By time it reached 11 miles from the airport, the plane turned around and made an attempt to return to Statesville Regional. The final data point, which came at 10:15 showed the plane less than a half mile from the airport, in line with its runway and near the Lakewood Golf Club at arout 800 feet and 95 knots (109 mph).
It crashed at the east end of the runway.
Immediately overseeing the incident was the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office but in the hours since the crash, they have been joined on-site by the Federal Aviation Administration and the North Carolina State Patrol. A brief press conference was held shortly after noon with airport manager John Ferguson sharing what little he could at the time.
“Like we said, at approximately 10:15 a.m., we got a report of a jet that crashed off the end of the runway on the east end. By time I came out, it was fully engulfed. We’ve had multiple agencies that have come. The FAA arrived at about 12 o’clock today.
“They are taking over the scene and the investigation. We have no information on the cause. The airport is closed until further notice. It will take time to get the debris off the runway.”
Dan DePodwin, AccuWeather Vice President of Forecasting Operations issued a statement about weather conditions at the time of the incident.
“Adverse weather conditions were reported in the vicinity of Statesville Regional Airport around the time of the plane crash,” DePodwin said. “Heavy drizzle and a cloud ceiling near 1,200 feet were reported at 10:15 a.m. The cloud ceiling had reportedly lowered to around 400 feet, with heavy rain reducing visibility to less than 2 miles at 10:30 a.m. Weather conditions are often a critical factor that investigators carefully review after a plane crash. It may take months to a year or longer for investigators to determine if the weather conditions contributed to the crash.”
The plane was quickly identified in the moments after the crash as a Cessna C550 with the tail number N257BW, which is owned by Biffle’s GB Aviation Leasing, LLC.
Biffle was the 2002 NASCAR Busch Series champion, the 2000 Craftsman Truck Series champion and was named as one of the sport’s 75 greatest drivers in 2023 due to his 19 wins at the highest level from 2002 through sporadic starts this decade.
In recent years, Biffle became known for philanthropy centering on animal welfare through his Greg Biffle Foundation and his relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024. Biffle is a registered pilot and used his helicopter to take supplies to Western North Carolina in the aftermath of the devastating storm.
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