Full Analysis Summary
Statesville jet crash summary
A Cessna Citation 550 business jet crashed while attempting to land at Statesville Regional Airport north of Charlotte on Thursday morning, killing all seven people aboard, including retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and members of his family.
Officials said the jet returned to the airport shortly after takeoff and went down during the landing attempt, and witnesses and airport officials reported the aircraft erupted into flames on impact.
Authorities, including the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and the local sheriff's office, confirmed seven fatalities and said the NTSB and FAA have opened an investigation into the crash.
Plane crash victims
Families and racing organizations released names identifying the victims as Greg Biffle; his wife, Cristina (also reported as Cristina Grossu Biffle); their children, Emma and Ryder; and passengers Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.
Several outlets provided ages for the children—Emma, 14, and Ryder, 5—and noted the plane was registered to a company linked to Biffle.
Family statements and NASCAR tributes named the victims and described the families as devastated, but officials stressed that formal identification awaited medical examiner confirmation because the post-crash fire caused damage.
Cessna crash timeline
Flight-tracking data and witness accounts indicate the Cessna departed Statesville shortly after 10 a.m. local time bound for Florida.
The aircraft returned to the airport within minutes and crashed on approach, with reported times of impact ranging from about 10:15 to 10:20 a.m.
Witnesses at a nearby golf course reported seeing the low-flying jet and later finding debris scattered across a fairway or the ninth hole.
Video circulating online showed flames and heavy smoke as first responders arrived on scene.
Aircraft incident investigation
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were dispatched to the scene to determine the cause.
Officials emphasized the probe would take time and said investigators would examine mechanical history, pilot actions, and weather.
Several reports noted drizzle and clouds at the time of the flight.
WRAL quoted a former NTSB investigator saying examiners would consider possible engine failure, low cloud or fog, who was piloting the aircraft, and maintenance history.
Authorities repeatedly cautioned against speculation while the NTSB conducted on-site work and data recovery.
Tributes After Driver Crash
The crash prompted an outpouring of grief and tributes from the racing world, public officials and the local community.
NASCAR called Biffle a beloved member of the sport and noted his on-track success and humanitarian work.
Reports highlighted Biffle's long career — more than 50 wins across NASCAR's top three national series, including 19 Cup victories and championships in the Truck and Xfinity series — and described recent relief missions he undertook after Hurricane Helene.
Political figures and fellow drivers posted condolences, and local witnesses and friends recounted shock and sorrow as investigations continue.