Greg Biffle has died. The 55-year-old retired NASCAR driver was the registered owner of the private plane that crashed this morning, Dec. 18, at Statesville Regional Airport, located in North Carolina.
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"At approximately 10:15 am, an aircraft crashed while landing," said airport officials, according to the Charlotte Observer. "Multiple agencies are responding ... including HazMat, EMS, Fire, Rescue, Emergency Management, the NC State Highway Patrol, and the Federal Aviation Administration."
The Cessna Citation II with the tail number N257BW reportedly crashed after takeoff. While officials have confirmed there were five fatalities, details about the identity of the pilot and whether Greg Biffle was onboard were unknown for some time. Several media outlets have now confirmed that Biffle and his family were among the dead in the crash. According to WFMY News, Biffle's wife and two kids were among those who have passed away.
The Weather Was Reportedly "Adverse"
Biffle was not only a successful NASCAR driver but also an accomplished pilot. Last year, he flew supplies to help the victims of Hurricane Helene.
AccuWeather noted the airport faced "adverse" conditions, including heavy drizzle and visibility under 2 miles.
"Weather conditions are often a critical factor that investigators carefully review after a plane crash. It may take months to a year or longer for investigators to determine if the weather conditions contributed to the crash," said Dan DePodwin, AccuWeather Vice President of Forecasting Operations.
The Plane Owned by Greg Biffle Turned Around
Flight tracking data shows Biffle's plane took off around 10:06 a.m. Eastern time. Shortly after, it turned around to attempt a landing but crashed near the runway. Reports indicate the pilot experienced engine trouble during the return.
The plane's destination was Bradenton, Florida. This is the location of Cleetus McFarland's Christmas Tree Drags race. McFarland, a social media personality and driver, was friends with Biffle. The two worked together during the Hurricane Helene rescue runs.
Biffle won 19 races during his NASCAR Cup Series career and 56 races overall. He retired from racing full-time in 2016, though he made some starts in 2022. He was recognized by NASCAR for his efforts. He was an honorary starter for the 2024 Bank of America 400 at the Charlotte Roval.
