NTSB Intensifies Probe into Fatal Aircraft Incident Involving NASCAR Driver Greg Biffle

STATESVILLE, NC – Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are meticulously working to establish the sequence of events and identify the pilot in command during a tragic aviation incident that claimed the lives of former NASCAR Cup Series driver Greg Biffle, his family, and three other individuals. The crash occurred on Thursday morning near Statesville Regional Airport, with the NTSB formally commencing its investigation on Friday.

During a press conference held on Saturday morning, NTSB Board Member Michael Graham and Investigator-In-Charge Dan Baker provided an update on the preliminary findings. "We still do not know the circumstances which led the aircraft… to attempt to return to the airport," Graham stated, emphasizing that this remains the central focus of their ongoing inquiry.

While details remain scarce as the investigation is in its nascent stages, Graham did confirm a critical piece of information previously reported: a brief text message exchange between Cristina Grossu Biffle, Greg Biffle’s wife, and her mother, Cathy Grossu. Cathy Grossu had recounted to CBS on Friday that her daughter had sent a message stating, "We’re in trouble, emergency landing." This was followed by an SOS alert from Cristina’s Apple device, indicating a severe emergency.

Graham confirmed the NTSB’s awareness of this single, brief text message from a passenger aboard the aircraft to a family member, reading "emergency landing." However, he clarified that they are not aware of any other communications from passengers to individuals on the ground. He noted that the NTSB was not privy to this specific detail in their initial briefings on Thursday and received the information between press conferences.

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A significant aspect of the investigation revolves around identifying the pilot during the crucial ten-minute period between takeoff and the aircraft’s failed attempt to return to the airport. Greg Biffle himself was a licensed pilot. Additionally, Dennis and Jack Dutton, who were also among the passengers, held pilot certifications. The other occupants of the aircraft were Biffle’s 14-year-old daughter Emma (from his first marriage to Nicole Lunders), his 5-year-old son Ryder, and long-time NASCAR associate Craig Wadsworth.

"I do not have any additional information about who was in the left seat at the time," Graham stated regarding the pilot’s identity. He added, "We do anticipate that all the information about all the pilot rated occupants will be included in our preliminary report." The NTSB expects to release its preliminary report within 30 days, though a comprehensive final analysis, which will include probable cause, is anticipated to take 12 to 18 months to complete.

Graham indicated that the NTSB possesses a degree of confidence regarding the identity of the pilot but stressed the necessity of verification before official pronouncements. "At this point, we have a lot of really good information," Graham commented. "We’re fairly confident with the left seat occupant but we need to verify that. We need to be accurate in what we do. And from a survival standpoint, which is part of what we investigate, we want to know where everyone was sitting and that is a little more difficult in a crash like this."

In the approximately 12 hours between Friday’s and Saturday’s press conferences, the NTSB has engaged in numerous witness interviews and is rigorously validating the collected evidence. "Early indication from multiple sources indicate that the plane was stable on approach, configured for landing with the landing lights on," Graham reported. "But the aircraft was coming in low."

This observation aligns with the debris field documented by the investigation team. Graham noted consistency with the initial points of impact on an airport runway light stanchion located approximately 1800 feet from the runway threshold. Despite these visual cues, Graham reiterated that further technical evidence is required to definitively determine the underlying reasons for this low approach. "It did look like the aircraft was configured properly for landing but it was low in the videos," Graham stated. "But we have no other indication over what went wrong at this time."

Since Friday morning, the NTSB has meticulously documented the debris field, the condition of the aircraft wreckage, the locations of individual components, and the flight controls. The flight voice recorder has been transported to NTSB headquarters in Washington, D.C., where specialists are working to recover the data.

Among the items collected from the debris for detailed analysis are the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder. "All of these are being sent to NTSB recorders labs in Washington, D.C.," Graham explained. "We will determine whether data and relevant information can be recovered from these units." These recovered data points are expected to be instrumental in determining the probable cause of the accident.

Furthermore, the NTSB has obtained the aircraft’s maintenance logs. This comprehensive set of information will be utilized to ascertain critical factors such as the aircraft’s weight and balance at the time of the incident and the impact load sustained during the crash.

Both engines of the aircraft have undergone initial analysis. A drone was deployed on Friday to survey the scene, but due to strong winds, its operation was postponed until Saturday morning when calmer atmospheric conditions allowed for the completion of the aerial assessment.

Greg Biffle, a 54-year-old NASCAR Cup Series champion, was a prominent figure in the sport, known for his aggressive driving style and success. His career spanned from 2000 to 2016, during which he amassed 22 Cup Series wins, including the prestigious Daytona 500 in 2002. Biffle also secured the NASCAR Truck Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series championship in 2002. His racing career was marked by his association with Roush Fenway Racing for the majority of his Cup Series tenure. Following his retirement from full-time NASCAR competition, Biffle had been involved in various motorsports endeavors, including occasional appearances in other racing series and business ventures.

The NTSB’s thorough investigation aims to provide a clear and accurate account of the events leading to this tragic loss, offering crucial insights for aviation safety and preventing future occurrences. The coming months will be critical as investigators delve deeper into the data and evidence to piece together the full story of the fatal flight.

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