Several people were killed Thursday when a small private jet crashed at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle was among the victims, local officials confirmed. Federal investigators began examining the cause of the aircraft’s crash shortly after takeoff.
The crash occurred at approximately 10:15 a.m., according to airport and county officials. Statesville Regional Airport described it as an “aircraft incident” and confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration was en route. The airport remains closed until further notice as investigators work to determine the cause and clear debris.
Iredell County authorities confirmed multiple fatalities but initially declined to identify the victims, stating that notifications were still underway. Later Thursday, Garrett Mitchell — known online as Cleetus McFarland — publicly identified Greg Biffle and his immediate family as being aboard the aircraft. Mitchell said Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their two children, Emma and Ryder, were traveling to Florida to visit him at the time of the crash, but officials did not immediately confirm these identities themselves.
“Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder were on that plane,” Mitchell wrote in a Facebook post. “Because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us. We are devastated. I’m so sorry to share this.” Mitchell’s post served as the first public identification of Biffle and his family as victims and drew an outpouring of condolences from the motorsports community and beyond.
Federal Aviation Administration registration records show the aircraft involved was a Cessna Citation 550 with tail number N257BW. The plane is owned by GB Aviation Leasing, a company registered to Biffle, according to FAA records available through https://registry.faa.gov. Officials have not confirmed how many total passengers were aboard at the time of the crash. The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office told WFMY News 2 that “several people” were killed.
Authorities said the plane had been en route to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport in Florida when it encountered trouble shortly after departing Statesville. Weather Impact Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich later shared an animation of the flight path, indicating the jet made an immediate turn back toward the airport and crashed while attempting to land. Panovich’s analysis suggests the aircraft did not gain significant altitude before reversing course, though investigators cautioned that the flight path alone does not establish a cause.
Local, state, and federal agencies responded swiftly to the scene. Statesville City Manager Ron Smith said multiple organizations were working together on the investigation. “Everybody is here on site at this point, and we anticipate this will be going for quite some time,” Smith told reporters. He underscored the complexity of the response and recovery effort.
In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport President and CEO Paul L. Hoback Jr. offered condolences to the victims’ families. “We are deeply saddened by the news of the Cessna C550 aircraft crash at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina,” Hoback said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those on board and with their families and loved ones during this difficult time, as well as the first responders assisting.”
The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, with support from the FAA. Investigators are expected to review flight data, aircraft maintenance records, weather conditions, and witness accounts. According to the NTSB, a preliminary report is typically issued within weeks, though a final determination of probable cause can take months.
Biffle, 55, was a prominent figure in NASCAR, competing at the Cup Series level for nearly two decades and earning widespread respect within the racing community. In recent years, he has also gained recognition for humanitarian work, including organizing and piloting flights to deliver relief supplies following Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Mitchell said it was during those relief efforts that the two men became close friends.
As the investigation continues, officials urged patience and restraint. They emphasized that many questions remain unanswered. The crash marks a devastating loss for the victims’ families and a profound moment of grief for the motorsports community. Authorities are working to piece together the circumstances that led to the fatal accident.
