The investigation into the tragic private jet crash that claimed the lives of NASCAR star Greg Biffle and his family has taken a perplexing turn. Authorities have confirmed that three licensed pilots were onboard the aircraft at the time of the fatal incident, yet it remains unclear who was at the controls.
A Fatal Turn Back to the Airport
Greg Biffle, 55, his wife Cristina, and their two children, five-year-old Ryder and 14-year-old Emma, were travelling to the Bahamas alongside three other individuals. The journey ended in catastrophe shortly after takeoff from Statesville Regional Airport, located roughly 45 miles north of Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Cessna C550 jet departed but was forced to turn back toward the airport just five minutes into the flight. It crashed last Thursday morning, erupting into a large fire upon impact approximately a third of a mile from the runway.
Three Pilots, One Unanswered Question
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has identified the three pilots onboard. Biffle himself held a license to fly multi-engine planes, though he was not specifically rated for this jet model. Also present was 67-year-old Dennis Dutton, a retired Air Force Reserve pilot and Delta Airlines captain, who was properly licensed and rated to fly the Cessna C550. Dennis's 20-year-old son, Jack Dutton, also possessed a pilot's license, but only for single-engine aircraft.
Despite this concentration of flying experience, investigators have not determined who was piloting the aircraft when it plummeted to the ground. The cockpit voice recorder has been recovered and may provide crucial evidence, but no emergency calls from the jet have been identified.
NTSB board member Michael Graham emphasised the preliminary nature of the inquiry, stating, "This is the beginning of a very long process, and we will not jump to any conclusions while on scene here in North Carolina." A final report could take up to 18 months.
Erratic Flight Path and a Final Message
Flight data indicates the jet experienced significant instability. Former NTSB investigator Jeff Guzzetti noted its speed and altitude fluctuated dramatically, with the aircraft soaring from 1,800 feet to 4,000 feet before dropping again. It was alternating altitudes and was only a couple of hundred feet off the ground prior to the crash.
"One thing is certain: They were low. They were too low to make a safe landing on that runway," Guzzetti said. The plane crashed in drizzle and cloudy conditions while attempting to return.
A chilling detail emerged from Cristina Biffle’s mother, who revealed her daughter sent a final text message reading, "We’re in trouble," before all contact was lost.
The crash has sent shockwaves through the motorsport community and beyond. Biffle, a member of the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame, won over 50 NASCAR races across its top three series and was celebrated for his humanitarian efforts following Hurricane Helene in 2024. A memorial with flowers has appeared at his star in his hometown of Mooresville, as the complex investigation into this devastating accident continues.
