Aviation investigators are continuing to examine the cause of a fatal private jet crash that killed retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his immediate family, and three others earlier this month in North Carolina.
The crash occurred around 10:15 am on December 18, when a Cessna Citation 550 business jet owned by Biffle went down near the Statesville Regional Airport shortly after takeoff. Seven people were killed, including Biffle, his wife Cristina, their children Emma and Ryder, family friends Craig Wadsworth and Dennis Dutton, and Dutton’s son, Jack.
According to accounts from people familiar with the flight, the jet experienced a serious problem almost immediately after leaving the runway. Witnesses described a loud noise during takeoff, followed by the plane turning back to the airport. Public flight data later showed the plane climbing sharply before turning back, with speed and altitude varying as conditions worsened in low clouds and drizzle.
Ultimately the plane hit light poles, clipped trees, and exploded less than a mile from the runway. No distress calls were reported prior to the crash.
Former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace, a close friend of Biffle, later shared his personal theory while acknowledging that the investigation is ongoing. Wallace suggested that the aircraft may have lost one engine during takeoff, creating excessive drag that prevented the pilots from maintaining control despite applying maximum power to the remaining engine.
Federal officials have confirmed that the jet crashed while trying to land, and both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. The cockpit voice recorder has been recovered, although final conclusions may take many months.
Weather conditions at the time included poor visibility, fog, and light drizzle. Aviation experts reviewing the flight data indicated the possibility of a single engine failure along with challenging visual conditions during the return attempt.
Dutton, one of the pilots, was a recently retired Delta Air Lines captain with four decades of aviation experience. His son Jack, an Auburn University student, had recently earned his FAA instrument rating and aspired to become a professional pilot.
Family members later revealed the group was traveling to Florida for a birthday trip. The tragedy has deeply shaken the racing and aviation communities as investigators work to determine what went wrong in the final minutes of the flight.