The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its preliminary report regarding a fatal plane crash that claimed the lives of Greg Biffle, his family, and some friends.
Videos by FanBuzz
This crash occurred on Dec. 18, 2025, at the Statesville Regional Airport. A 1981 Cessna Citation 550 crashed while attempting to make an emergency landing. The occupants — Biffle, wife Cristina, son Ryder, daughter Emma, Dennis Dutton, Jack Dutton, and Craig Wadsworth — all died in the incident.
According to a Jan. 30 NTSB report, Dennis Dutton controlled the aircraft as a airline transport rated pilot. His son, Jack, was a passenger in the right seat. Jack held a private pilot certificate with single engine land and an instrument rating.
MORE: Full NTSB preliminary report
Biffle was positioned near the cockpit in the cabin area of the airplane. The former NASCAR champion held a private pilot certificate with ratings for multi-engine land, instrument airplane, and rotorcraft-helicopter.
The preliminary report noted that the voice recorder quality was poor, but it provided some details from the brief flight. Specifically, the three pilot-rated occupants "discussed that a thrust reverser indicator light(s) for an unspecified engine was inoperative, but that the thrust reverser for the affected engine was working properly."
An unspecified rear passenger also commented during the flight that the left engine was producing more power than the right. They indicated that a faulty gauge could be in play.
Photo credit: NTSB
At 10:10 a.m., the pilot commented that the altitude indicator was not working properly. He said that additional flight instruments on the left side may not have been working properly. The NTSB report noted that the Garmin GTN-750 stopped recording airspeed and heading data at this time.
The Garmin GTN-750 is a "combination GPS/Navigation receiver/Radio/Multi-Function display."
At 10:14 a.m., the plane made a left turn toward runway No. 28. This happened after a discussion about an unspecified problem with the aircraft. The Garmin GTN-750 began recording airspeed data once again at this time.
One minute later, the pilot stated that they had visual acquired the runway. The NTSB noted that the altitude and speed of the Cessna continued to decrease as the plane approached the runway. The data ended at this point, and the plane made impact with a light station at runway No. 28.
The NTSB further noted that the engines displayed no signs of uncontained engine failure. The low pressure turbine (LPT) blades on both engines appeared full length and undamaged when viewed through exhaust duct.
This is only the preliminary report. More information will be made available as the investigation continues. NTSB board member Michael Graham said on Dec. 19, 2025, that a full investigation could take 12-18 months.
He said they would work with multiple organizations including aircraft manufacturer Textron Aviation, engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney Canada, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
