NTSB investigates fatal NC plane crash that killed NASCAR star Greg Biffle and family as distress text emerges
Distress message from a passenger to a family member referencing an emergency landing is confirmed as investigators continue to probe why the Cessna C550 diverted and crashed near Statesville Regional Airport
The National Transportation Safety Board on Saturday identified seven fatalities in a North Carolina plane crash that killed NASCAR figure Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina Grossu Biffle, and their two children, Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, along with Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth. The crash occurred Thursday morning at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte, as the private flight was en route to the Bahamas via Sarasota, Florida.
During a Saturday press briefing, NTSB board member Michael Graham said investigators are focused on determining why the aircraft attempted to return to Statesville about 10 minutes after takeoff. "We do not know the circumstances which led the aircraft to attempt to return to the airport, but that is the focus of our investigation," Graham said. He also confirmed that one unnamed passenger sent a brief text to a family member containing the words, "Emergency landing." Graham added that officials are not aware of any other communications from people aboard the aircraft to those on the ground.
The seven-seat Cessna C550 involved in the crash had been flights aimed at private travel, with records indicating three of the seven aboard were licensed pilots. As of Friday, investigators had not verified who was piloting at the time of the accident and noted that early witness accounts did not indicate visible issues with the airplane. The aircraft was reported to have been stable on approach, with landing lights on and the configuration set for landing, but it was described as coming in low as it approached Statesville.
The NTSB assigned Investigator-In-Charge Dan Baker, who said on Friday that the agency is reviewing air-ground communications and flight records as part of a broader wreckage and systems analysis. While the exact sequence of events remains under review, the agency has emphasized that the cause of the crash is not yet known and that the investigation will consider weather, maintenance history, airframe integrity, and pilot operations as elements of the inquiry.
Greg Biffle, 55, is a former NASCAR Cup Series driver who has remained a prominent figure in racing circles. His family’s travel plans to the Bahamas were described as private and routine by authorities familiar with the case. The crash site at Statesville Regional Airport has prompted a multi-agency response as investigators comb through airframe components and data from the aircraft’s flight recorders, if available, to determine what led to the fatal impact.
The investigation is expected to take months as NTSB teams analyze wreckage, interview witnesses, and reconstruct the flight path from radar data and air traffic communications. Officials have urged patience as they work to assemble a complete timeline of events from takeoff to the moment of the crash. No final findings or determinations have been released, and investigators reiterated that responsibility at this stage is to identify contributing factors and improved safety practices to prevent a recurrence.
The crash’s impact on the families involved has drawn attention from fans and the broader motorsports community, many of whom have expressed condolences and called for a thorough, transparent review of the incident. While the public mourns, investigators say it remains critical to distinguish preliminary observations from determinations that could influence aviation safety standards and regulatory oversight in the future.
