STATESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Federal investigators on Friday will begin examining the wreckage of a commercial plane that crashed in North Carolina, killing all seven people on board, including retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family.
The Cessna C550 caught fire when it landed on Thursday. The North Carolina Highway Patrol said the plane took off from Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Charlotte, but quickly crashed while trying to return and land.
Flight records show the plane was registered to a company run by Biffle. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash or why the plane returned to the airport in drizzle and cloudy conditions.
Federal Aviation Administration records show Biffle was rated capable of flying helicopters and single- and multi-engine aircraft. It was unclear whether Biffle was piloting the plane at the time of the crash.
Biffle was on the plane with his wife, Christina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, according to the Highway Patrol and a family statement. Others on the plane were identified as Dennis Dutton, his son Jack and Craig Wadsworth.
“Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives,” a joint statement from the families said.
Biff, 55, has won more than 50 races at three NASCAR tracks, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also won the 2000 Truck Series championship and the 2002 Xfinity Series championship.
NASCAR called Biffle “a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor and a friend to many.”
“His passion for racing, his integrity and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors have had a lasting impact on the sport,” NASCAR said.
The Florida-bound plane took off from Statesville Airport just after 10 a.m., according to tracking data posted by FlightAware.com.
Golfers playing next to the airport witnessed the disaster, even collapsing on the ground at Lakewood Golf Club as planes flew overhead. The ninth hole was covered in debris.
“We were like, ‘Oh my God! This is so low,'” said Joshua Green of Mooresville. “It’s terrible.”
A team from the National Transportation Safety Board traveled to North Carolina Thursday to investigate. The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating.
Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said the Cessna, built in 1981, is a popular midsize business jet with an excellent reputation. It has two engines and typically seats six to eight passengers and two pilots.
In 2024, Biffle was honored for his humanitarian efforts after Hurricane Helene hit the United States, even using his private helicopter to deliver aid to flooded remote areas of western North Carolina.
“The last time I spoke to Christina, just a few weeks ago, she reached out and asked how she could help relief efforts in Jamaica. That’s who the Beefs were,” said Rep. Richard Hudson, R-North Carolina.
Roommate Benito Howell said Wadsworth was a friend of Biffle and helped him with odd jobs, including delivering supplies to areas hit by Hurricane Helene.
“He didn’t know how to say no,” Howell said of Wadsworth, who has worked for several NASCAR teams. “He loved everyone. He always tried to help everyone.”
The joint family statement also spoke of Dutton and his son Jack, saying they were “also deeply loved and their loss is felt by all who knew them”.
As 2025 comes to an end, the NTSB has investigated 1,331 U.S. crashes this year, ranging from two-seat aircraft to commercial aircraft, compared with a total of 1,482 in 2024.
Major air crashes around the world in 2025 include a collision between a plane and a helicopter in Washington that killed 67 people, an Air India crash in India that killed 260 people, and a crash in Russia’s Far East that killed 48 people. A UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky killed 14 people, including 11 on the ground.
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Robertson reported from Raleigh, North Carolina. Associated Press writers John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; Jenna Fryer in Charlotte, North Carolina; Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska; Ed White in Detroit; Sarah Brumfield in Washington; and Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this story.
