Greg Biffle and his family and friends set out for an early birthday and Christmas celebration on December 18, 2025, as he would turn 56 on December 23. Unfortunately, the plane they were on crashed while landing shortly after taking off. While an investigation into the tragic incident will take at least months, many are wondering what could’ve possibly gone wrong.  

The Cessna C550 Citation II N257BW was scheduled to fly to Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport from Statesville. According to Biffle’s friend, YouTuber, and part-time NASCAR racer, Cleetus McFarland a.k.a. Garrett Mitchell, they were flying to meet him. The business plane took off at 10.06 am but only traveled 29 miles before making a U-turn for the landing spot.

Apparently, there were technical issues with the vertical speed of the plane, and a loud noise was heard. It crashed at approximately 10:15 AM local time while attempting to land at Statesville Regional Airport (SVH). According to the latest reports, Biffle, along with his wife Cristina, 5-year-old son Ryder, Biffle’s daughter from another marriage, Emma (14), Dennis Dutton, and his son Jack were among the other victims. Craig Wadsworth, a member of the NASCAR community, is supposed to be flying the plane.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the cause of the accident. However, some speculations have already come into light:

• Technical issues: ADS-B data is limited as altitude data was unavailable from the aircraft from 15:10:10 UTC to 15:13:56. There was also limited vertical speed data during that time. Granular data shows that the aircraft’s vertical speed, or the rate of change in altitude, was spotty shortly after takeoff. These circumstances could indicate potential instability from mechanical failure, pilot issues, or other factors, leading to loss of control and the crash.
• Co-pilot intervention: Some reports also suggest that Biffle might have been present in the cockpit during the emergency landing. While the NASCAR legend did have a license, it was restricted to flying helicopters. However, investigations are suggesting that he may have either been flying the plane during the untimely return or co-piloting it. People on the ground mentioned they heard something over the radio. However, it is not clear what was being said.
• Engine troubles: The Cessna 550 flies on two engines. The recent reports, however, hint that it might have been flying with just one or no engines after they got burned after malfunctioning.
• Weather: At 10:35 am, about 3 minutes after the accident, the SVH automated surface observing system reported a calm wind, 1.75 miles surface visibility, heavy rain, a 400 ft above ground level (agl) scattered ceiling, a 1000 ft agl overcast ceiling, temperature 6°C, dew point 4°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.19 inches of mercury. While this is some technical data, it may have caused issues during the landing.

The Cessna Citation II (N257BW) plane, built in 1981, is a popular mid-sized business jet with an excellent reputation, aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said. It has two engines and typically seats six to eight passengers.

Statesville Regional Airport, where the crash unfolded, is about 45 miles north of Charlotte and has no control tower. Pilots are required to self-report their position on and near the airport using a common radio frequency.

While information is still unfolding around the tragedy, the local administration is taking steps.

A hands-on effort is underway

Greg Biffle’s passing has sent shockwaves across not only NASCAR but the community as well. Officials like Governor Josh Stein, US Representative Richard Hudson, and NASCAR have rolled out condolence messages. And other entities are taking up the responsibility to probe the harrowing crash.

“NTSB is launching a go team to investigate the fatal crash of a Cessna Citation C550 jet in Statesville, North Carolina. The team expects to arrive on scene tonight and Member Michael Graham will be spokesperson on scene. NTSB will hold a media briefing tomorrow, time and location will be shared on this account once finalized,” NTSB Newsroom posted on X.

As details unravel around the tragedy, NASCAR fans and other people are grieving the loss of an icon. May Greg Biffle and his family rest in peace.