7 killed, including NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and family, in Statesville plane crash

Seven people, including retired NASCAR star Greg Biffle, his wife, and their children, were killed on Dec. 18 when a small jet crashed at Statesville Regional Airport.

As first reported by WCAB sister station WAME, also owned by Signal Hill Media Partners and based in Statesville, the airplane went down shortly after takeoff. Witnesses told WAME the aircraft appeared to be attempting to return to the airport and was flying at a very low altitude.

Preliminary information indicates the aircraft was a Cessna 550 Citation II registered to a company owned by Biffle. The crash occurred around 10:15 a.m. local time. Officials initially said six people were aboard the aircraft; authorities later confirmed that a seventh victim had been located.

Highway patrol officials said it was difficult to immediately identify those aboard the plane due to the fire that accompanied the crash.

“Although the post-crash fire prevents us from releasing a definitive list of the occupants at this time, it is believed that Mr. Gregory Biffle and members of his immediate family were occupants of the airplane,” NC State Highway Patrol First Sgt. Chris Knox said. “We will be able to provide a compiled list of the seven occupants once confirmation has been made by the medical examiner’s office.”

The plane was engulfed in flames when emergency crews arrived, airport officials said. The Federal Aviation Administration assumed control of the scene and is leading the investigation, with the National Transportation Safety Board dispatching a team to assist.

NASCAR later confirmed the victims included Greg, Cristina, Ryder, and Emma Biffle, Dennis Dutton and his son, Jack, and Craig Wadsworth, a longtime NASCAR veteran. Biffle shared his daughter with his ex-wife, Nicole Lunders.

“This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words,” a joint statement released on behalf of the victims said. “Greg and Cristina were devoted parents and active philanthropists whose lives were centered around their young son Ryder and Greg’s daughter Emma. … Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives.”

Social media posts from Garrett Mitchell, known online as Cleetus McFarland, indicated the Biffle family was traveling to Florida to visit him, and that Biffle may have been scheduled to participate in an event Mitchell was hosting this weekend. NASCAR legend Kenny Wallace also confirmed that Wadsworth, a longtime friend, was on board.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein called the crash “heartbreaking,” singling out Biffle for his “courage and compassion,” particularly his humanitarian work following Hurricane Helene.

Biffle, 55, was selected by NASCAR as one of its top 75 drivers in history and was a Hall of Fame nominee. Over an 18-year career at the sport’s highest level, he made more than 800 starts across NASCAR’s three national series, winning championships in the Truck Series in 2000 and the Xfinity Series in 2002 — the first driver to accomplish that feat. He won 54 races overall, including 19 in the Cup Series, and finished second in the Cup championship standings in 2005.

For many in North Carolina, Biffle was remembered as much for his service off the track as for his success on it. A licensed pilot, he became widely known for his selfless work after Hurricane Helene, flying his personal helicopter on hundreds of missions to deliver supplies and evacuate residents from hard-hit mountain communities in western North Carolina and East Tennessee. In 2024, he received the National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brothers Award for humanitarian service. 

“Greg was more than a champion driver,” NASCAR said in a statement. “He was a beloved member of our community who gave tirelessly of his time to help others. His work after Hurricane Helene saved lives.”

Biffle was born in Vancouver, Washington, and spent much of his NASCAR career driving for Roush Fenway Racing, headquartered about 40 miles south of the crash site. Team owner Jack Roush said he had lost “a dear friend and partner,” calling Biffle’s contributions to the organization “immeasurable.”

In retirement, Biffle split his time between business ventures, fabricating cars in his shop, and life with his family. Less than a week before the crash, he posted a video of Cristina and their children picking out a Christmas tree.

City officials said the airport will remain closed until debris is cleared and the runway is deemed safe. Updates are expected as the federal investigation continues to determine the cause of the crash.