NTSB Outlines Extensive Investigation Process for Fatal Greg Biffle Plane Crash

Statesville, NC – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has officially commenced its comprehensive investigation into the tragic aviation incident that claimed the lives of former NASCAR Cup Series star Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina Grossu Biffle, their daughter Emma, son Ryder, and three other individuals on Thursday morning at Statesville Regional Airport. While a preliminary report is anticipated within 30 days, the full scope of the inquiry is expected to span 12 to 18 months, culminating in a final, detailed report.

During a press conference held on Friday afternoon, NTSB Member Michael Graham, accompanied by Investigator-In-Charge Dan Baker, provided an overview of the methodical process that will unfold over the coming year. The initial phase of the investigation is centered on meticulous evidence collection, including extensive witness interviews and the systematic gathering of all pertinent multimedia documentation related to the crash.

The aircraft, identified as a Cessna 550 and registered to Greg Biffle, descended rapidly and crashed at approximately 10:15 a.m. local time, a mere ten minutes after its departure from Statesville Regional Airport. The wreckage was located on the approach end of Runway 28. The fatalities include Biffle, his wife Cristina Grossu Biffle, his daughter Emma (from his previous marriage to Nicole Lunders), and his son Ryder. Also aboard the ill-fated flight were Craig Wadsworth, a long-time associate of Biffle within the NASCAR community, and Dennis and Jack Dutton.

The crash site revealed an extensive debris field measuring approximately 1,800 feet, indicating a significant impact. The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) has been recovered and transported to Washington, D.C., for in-depth analysis.

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"It’s fairly long so it’s scattered wide and out so it’s going to take some time to document all that," Graham stated, underscoring the scale of the debris. He further elaborated on the challenges posed by current atmospheric conditions, noting, "We were unable to get our drone launched today with the high winds but we want to get that digitally documented with the drone tomorrow so hopefully we can get a better idea of how wide and how much debris is out there."

A critical aspect of the investigation is determining who was piloting the aircraft at the time of the crash. Graham confirmed that while three of the occupants held pilot licenses, the NTSB has not yet been able to definitively verify the identity of the pilot. "At this time, we have been unable to verify who was piloting the airplane," Graham stated. "Three of the occupants did possess pilots’ licenses but we have been unable to verify (who was piloting) as of this time. That is one of the things we are working on." He also acknowledged that the Cessna 550 is certified for single-pilot operations, and waivers can be obtained for such flights, but the specifics of this flight remain under review.

Witness accounts and preliminary findings suggest the aircraft made initial contact with the ground short of the runway before continuing its descent. "Yes, it did hit the ground before getting to the runway," Graham confirmed in response to a reporter’s inquiry, adding that witness observations place the initial impact "in that vicinity" of the airport fence. "We’re still evaluating that."

In light of this, the NTSB has issued a public appeal, requesting that any individuals who possess video or photographic evidence of the incident, or who may have witnessed the crash, come forward and contact the NTSB via their dedicated witness email account at [email protected].

Graham indicated that initial information suggests the plane may have been reapproaching at a low altitude, but emphasized that further interviews and analysis of visual evidence are required to substantiate these claims. "At this point, we are doing some interviews on site," Graham said. "We’re looking for additional witnesses and that’s why I put that out in the briefing. But we don’t have anything to share. It’s much too early for that. That would go into our analysis section."

Regarding potential contributing factors, the NTSB has not yet identified any mechanical issues with the aircraft that may have occurred shortly after takeoff. Similarly, speculation about the role of weather conditions is premature, though Graham did provide an overview of the prevailing atmospheric conditions. "The weather was visual flight rules but there were low ceilings out there and there was heavy drizzle at the time," Graham explained. "So, that is one of the three things we mainly look at — the people operating the aircraft, we look at the aircraft itself and we look at the environment and the weather is one of the things we do and will look at."

Greg Biffle, a prominent figure in NASCAR from 2001 to 2016, achieved significant success during his career. He is a former winner of the Daytona 500 (2000 ARCA race, a precursor to the Daytona 500), the Brickyard 400 (2005), and the Coca-Cola 600 (2005). He competed full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing for much of his career, earning 19 Cup Series victories and finishing a career-best second in the championship standings in 2005. His departure from full-time competition was followed by a hiatus from racing, with sporadic appearances in other disciplines. The loss of Biffle, a well-respected personality within the motorsports community, and his family has sent ripples of grief throughout the sport. The detailed findings of the NTSB investigation will be crucial in understanding the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.