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STATESVILLE, N.C. -- Federal investigators sifting done the wreckage of a business pitchy that crashed successful North Carolina and killed retired NASCAR operator Greg Biffle, his family, and 3 others are trying to fig retired who was flying the level and what caused it to instrumentality to the airdrome soon aft takeoff.
The Cessna C550 erupted into a ample occurrence erstwhile it deed the crushed Thursday, sidesplitting each 7 connected board. It had departed Statesville Regional Airport, astir 45 miles (72 kilometers) northbound of Charlotte, but crashed little than 10 minutes aboriginal portion trying to instrumentality and land, authorities said.
First responders thin to the country of a reported level clang astatine a determination airdrome successful Statesville, N.C., Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.
AP Photo/Matt Kelley
Flight records amusement the level was registered to a institution tally by Biffle. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were astatine the airdrome trying to find the origin of the clang and wherefore the level returned to the airdrome successful drizzle and cloudy conditions.
Federal Aviation Administration records amusement Biffle was rated to alert helicopters, and single- and multi-engine planes. Also connected committee was Dennis Dutton. Two radical look successful a national database of aviator licenses nether that name. The clang besides killed Dutton's son, Jack, and Biffle's person Craig Wadsworth.
Biffle's wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, were besides killed successful the crash, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said.
Greg Biffle celebrates successful triumph lane aft winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car contention astatine Kansas Speedway connected Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, successful Kansas City, Kan.
AP Photo/Orlin Wagner, File
"Each of them meant everything to us, and their lack leaves an immeasurable void successful our lives," the associated household connection said.
Greg Biffle, 55, won much than 50 races crossed NASCAR's 3 circuits, including 19 astatine the Cup Series level. He besides won the Trucks Series title successful 2000 and the Xfinity Series rubric successful 2002.
Greg Biffle smiles on pit enactment during qualifying for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car contention astatine Atlanta Motor Speedway, Friday, Aug. 31, 2012, successful Hampton, Ga.
AP Photo/David Tulis, File
NASCAR called Biffle "a beloved subordinate of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a person to truthful many."
"His passionateness for racing, his integrity, and his committedness to fans and chap competitors alike made a lasting interaction connected the sport," NASCAR said.
A memorial with flowers sprouted up Friday by Biffle's marble prima successful his hometown of Mooresville, honoring him arsenic a subordinate of the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
In 2024, Biffle was honored for his humanitarian efforts aft Hurricane Helene struck the U.S., adjacent utilizing his idiosyncratic chopper to present assistance to flooded, distant occidental North Carolina.
Former operator Greg Biffle waves to fans anterior to a NASCAR Cup Series car contention astatine Darlington Raceway, Aug. 31, 2025, successful Darlington, S.C.
AP Photo/Matt Kelley, File
"The past clip I spoke with Cristina, conscionable a mates of weeks ago, she reached retired to inquire however she could assistance with alleviation efforts successful Jamaica. That's who the Biffles were," U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, a Republican from North Carolina, said.
Wadsworth was Biffle's person and helped him with unusual jobs, including delivering supplies to places deed by Hurricane Helene, roommate Benito Howell said.
"He didn't cognize however to accidental no," Howell said of Wadsworth, who had worked for respective NASCAR teams. "He loved everybody. He ever tried to assistance everybody."
The associated household connection besides spoke astir Dutton and his lad Jack, saying they were "deeply loved arsenic well, and their nonaccomplishment is felt by each who knew them."
The Statesville airdrome remained closed Friday portion the NTSB performed its investigation, a metropolis spokesperson said.
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Associated Press writers Allen G. Breed; Jenna Fryer successful Charlotte, North Carolina; Josh Funk successful Omaha, Nebraska; Jeffrey Collins successful Columbia, South Carolina; Ed White successful Detroit; and Hallie Golden successful Seattle contributed to this story.
