STATESVILLE, N.C. — Authorities have confirmed that former NASCAR driver and championship winner Greg Biffle was among seven people killed Thursday morning when a small aircraft crashed at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol says the crash happened around 10:15 a.m. The airport was immediately closed and remains shut down as investigators work to determine the cause and clear the scene.
Biffle, 55, was a well-known figure in American motorsports, with a career that spanned more than two decades. He competed full-time in NASCAR’s top three national series and is one of the few drivers to win championships at multiple levels. Biffle captured the 2000 Craftsman Truck Series championship and followed it with the 2002 Busch Series championship, later known as the Xfinity Series. He went on to earn 19 career wins in the NASCAR Cup Series, racing for teams including Roush Racing and becoming a regular contender on both short tracks and superspeedways.
Officials say Biffle is the only victim formally identified at this time. The names of the other six people on board will be released once next-of-kin notifications are complete.
Motorsports personality Garrett Mitchell, known online as Cleetus McFarland, confirmed that Biffle was traveling with his wife, Cristina, and their two children, Emma and Ryder. According to Mitchell, the family was flying to Florida to visit him. The two became close through racing events and recent humanitarian efforts, including flights organized by Biffle to deliver relief supplies to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.
Former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace also shared that Craig Wadsworth, a longtime figure in the NASCAR community, was believed to be among those on the plane. Wadsworth was widely respected in the sport and had worked closely with Wallace for several years.
State officials confirmed the aircraft was a Cessna C550 with tail number N257BW, registered to GB Aviation Leasing, a company owned by Biffle. The plane had departed Statesville and was en route to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport in Florida.
Preliminary flight tracking data indicates the aircraft turned back toward the airport shortly after takeoff and crashed while attempting to land. No official cause has been released, and weather or mechanical factors have not yet been confirmed.
Local, state, and federal agencies — including the National Transportation Safety Board — are now investigating the crash. The NTSB is expected to provide additional details during a news conference scheduled for Friday.
Statesville city officials say the investigation is expected to take time and have asked the public to avoid the area while crews continue their work.
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