Former NASCAR champion Greg Biffle and his family passed away Thursday morning in a crash north of the Charlotte metropolitan area.
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Seven people died in this crash at the Statesville Regional Airport, a statement from their families confirmed. The victims included Biffle, wife Cristina, son Ryder, daughter Emma, Dennis Dutton, Jack Dutton, and Craig Wadsworth.
According to the flight data, a 1981 Cessna Citation II registered to GB Aviation in Mooresville departed the Statesville airport at 10:06 a.m. local time.
The flight plan had a distance of 587 miles, but the Cessna turned around and tried to land. It crashed on the landing attempt around 10:15 a.m. Witnesses reported black smoke and fire.
WSOC's meteorologist reported on Thursday morning that the visibility at this time was around five miles. Field reporter Dave Faherty said fog and light rain were present at the airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) arrived at the scene of the crash around 12:20 p.m. local time to take over the investigation. No cause for the crash was immediately available, but on-site officials said the crash occurred at the east end of the runway.
A Cessna 550 Citation II, N257BW, has crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport, North Carolina.
There were six occupants onboard, local media reports that five fatalities have been confirmed so far.According to flight tracking data the aircraft made a return to the… pic.twitter.com/NKy8DnUtuF
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) December 18, 2025
"We are devastated by the loss of our loved ones," a joint statement from the victims' families said. "This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words.
"Greg and Cristina were devoted parents and active philanthropists whose lives were centered around their young son Ryder and Greg's daughter Emma (mother - Nicole Lunders).
"Emma was a wonderful human being with a kind soul who was loved by many people. Ryder was an active, curious and infinitely joyful child.
"Dennis Dutton and his son Jack were deeply loved as well, and their loss is felt by all who knew them.
"Craig Wadsworth was beloved by many in the NASCAR community and will be missed by those who knew him.
"Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives.
"We ask for privacy, compassion and understanding as we grieve and begin to process this unimaginable loss. We are grateful for the kindness and support that has been extended to our families during this incredibly difficult time.
"At this moment, our focus is on honoring their lives and supporting one another."
Biffle, one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers, competed on the West Coast early in his career before heading to the national series in the late 1990s. He made his Truck Series debut in 1998 and competed full-time in the third-tier series for three seasons. He won the 2000 championship after winning five races.
Biffle moved up to the secondary NASCAR series in 2001 and continued achieving success. He won the 2002 championship after capturing four races and posting 25 top-10 finishes.
The Washington native continued moving up the ladder in 2003 as he took on the Cup Series full-time. He remained at the top level of NASCAR through the 2016 season while winning 19 races and finishing a career-best second in the championship standings in 2005.
While Biffle focused on the Cup Series, he also made starts in the other two national NASCAR series while scoring wins. He celebrated 20 wins in the secondary series and 17 wins in the Truck Series. His final Truck Series win took place in 2019 as he returned from retirement.
The veteran driver retired from NASCAR after the 2016 season, but he briefly returned in the Gen 7 era. He joined NY Racing Team for five starts in 2022 while representing various universities.
Of course, Biffle's biggest impact came away from the race track. Last year, he showed up to support those affected by Hurricane Helene. He flew a helicopter to deliver supplies, and he helped reach those cut off by the disastrous storm that went through eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, and other areas.
These efforts led to Biffle winning the NMPA Myers Brothers Award, an award created to recognize an individual who made outstanding contributions to stock car racing.
