A random Thursday turned into a tragedy for NASCAR fans on the 18th December last year, after Greg Biffle’s plane crashed at the Statesville Airport just minutes after takeoff. This turned the motorsports world silent. Not only was he a competitive former driver, but he was also immensely loved by the fans for everything he did not just inside but outside of racing, beyond the track.

Shortly after the crash, many drivers and other authorities of the sport came ahead to pay him heartfelt tributes. These tributes saw no boundaries, as he was also remembered during an NFL game the following weekend. NASCAR also announced a public remembrance service, which will be held on Friday, 16th January. But while many have still not recovered from what happened on that day in December, there are new recordings from the time of his crash that were just publicized, reflecting on the terrifying moments just after the crash.

Terrifying moments just after the crash come to light with dispatch calls

Regions surrounding the Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina were on high alert, and people were shocked to the core just moments after the crash. Recently, some of the 911 calls that the people made were publicized, painting a chilling picture of the crash.

One of the first calls, understandably, was from the airport’s authorities: “We have a plane crash at runway 2-8, and there’s a big fire…which is the west end. It’s going to be near the golf course.”

Top Stories

Andy Reid Fires Coach In Attempt to Rebuild Staff After Receiving HC Requests For Chiefs’ Coordinators

Sources: John Harbaugh Wasn’t Fired, Left Ravens After Refusing Major Staff Changes

Three Arrested in Cleveland For Burglary at Shedeur Sanders’ Home

Mike McDaniel Contract: How Much Do Miami Dolphins Owe the Fired Coach?

Bryson DeChambeau Releases Fresh Statement on His LIV Golf Future Post Brooks Koepka’s Exit

Jimmie Johnson Caught at Center of Fan Storm as NASCAR Controversial Rule Sparks Daytona Backlash

While this was only informational, the second part of this message is important. The presence of a golf course right next to the facility reveals the operating level of the airport. The Cessna Citation 550 that crashed apparently flew very close to the course, as some witnesses made 911 calls, revealing the terrifying nature of the incident.

“I’m at Lakewood Golf Course Right now and we just had a plane fly over our heads and crash into the tree line and a huge explosion near the runway out here. I don’t know if the guys’ OK. I don’t wanna go over there,” the caller said.

Understandably, it was a bone-chilling experience for the public. A jet, as big as the 550, going down into flames can be a terrifying image for anyone. Videos revealed that the plane was attempting to land back shortly after takeoff, but failed to do so. It crashed into the trees on final approach, with the debris being spread in a very wide area.

“We just had a Learjet crash at Statesville Airport. It’s gonna be at the end of the runway. If you could give me a full dispatch, unknown how many souls are onboard. It is down, it is on fire. The fire spread from the golf course until the end of the runway,” said another caller.

The exact reason for the crash is still unknown, despite the two NTSB briefings after the incident. While their investigation continues, the fans and NASCAR prepare a memorial service for Greg Biffle.

Remembrance service to be held for the lives lost in the crash

There were a total of seven souls on board the flight: Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, and his children Emma and Ryder were the family of four. The three others were Craig Wadsworth, pilot Dennis Dutton, and his son Jack Dutton. There were no survivors. The family was headed to meet automotive YouTuber Garrett Mitchell, a.k.a Cleetus McFarland. He confirmed this through social media.

This tragedy affected the lives of many families and the millions of fans that Biffle globally, especially in his hometown, where he was known for his humanitarian work. He flew his personal helicopter in 2024 to help the families affected by Hurricane Helene. He was considered a hero.

In an attempt to honor his life and the lives of the people who lost their lives in the tragic crash, a remembrance service will be arranged on Friday, 16th January, at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte.

Was Greg Biffle in the cockpit when the plane crashed?

The Cessna 550 is a jet that can be easily flown by a single pilot, but the fact that Biffle was a trained and licensed pilot does bring some questions to mind. The first one being, was whether he was in the cockpit? This can be a little tricky to assess, mainly because Biffle wasn’t licensed to fly the plane.

Despite being trained, his license did not allow him to fly jets of that capacity. Yet, in an emergency, is it possible that he presented himself to perhaps assist the pilot with the landing? Aviation expert Greg Feith had a similar question just days after the crash.

“Greg Biffle was a certificated pilot,” he said. “I don’t know if, in fact, he was sitting in front, and it could have been that they were working together to deal with this problem. If in fact Biffle was in one of the in one of the pilot seats. That’s going to be a question that the board’s going to have to try and answer, given his qualifications.”

The NTSB did manage to recover the flight data recorder, and it is expected to take at least a month before a preliminary report is released. This could reveal some more facts about the flight, the errors the pilot faced, and the ultimate crash.

The crash had a major impact on the NASCAR community. Greg Biffle’s close ones kept receiving their family’s holiday cards weeks after their tragic passing. Understandably, it will be a long time till the families move on from this, but Biffle will never be forgotten.