“It all started with a text message, which read ‘emergency landing,’” recalls Biffle. “Soon after, his Cessna C550, carrying Biffle, wife Cristina, and their two kids, Emma and Ryder, along with three close friends, went down near Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, taking seven lives with it, thus ending a part of NASCAR’s history in tragedy.”
1. The Final Flight
The plane, which belongs to GB Aviation with Biffle as the manager, took off at approximately 10:10 a.m. to make the return, but this happened only a few minutes later. As reported, the altitude changes experienced by the plane were extreme, climbing from 1,800 feet to 4,000 feet but subsequently going lower. However, the plane approached the ground too low, hitting light poles on the runway as well as some trees, ultimately exploding with flames a third of a mile away from the runway. There was no call for a mayday.
2. A Career Filled With Excellence
Greg Biffle’s name is listed in NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers. In two decades, he recorded 19 Cup Series wins along with championships in both the Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series. In fact, he is one of the few drivers to have clinched championships in two series. His racing career started in short tracks in Vancouver, Washington, but his national recognition began after Jack Roush received a recommendation to take him in. Biffle accumulated 56 series victories in NASCAR’s top three series. More amazingly, even though he stopped racing full-time in 2016, he shocked fans in 2019 by clinching a Truck Series victory in a single appearance.
3. Humanitarian Spirit Beyond the Track
Since his retirement, the impact of Biffle’s racing career has also been seen in other pursuits outside of racing. In the year 2024, he performed an impressive number of helicopter missions to help the people of the North Carolina mountains, who had been affected by Hurricane Helene, thereby taking home the NMPA Myers Brothers Award. This was also reflected in the words of U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, who said, “Greg was an incredible NASCAR champion who delighted the hearts of millions of people. However, he was an even more incredible individual, and his memory shall be cherished not only for his bravery on the racetrack but for his contribution to society as well.” His wife, Cristina, also had the same spirit, as she had recently offered to help with the relief efforts in Jamaica.
4. The Victims Remembered
The Biffle family, Dennis Dutton and son Jack, as well as motorhome helper Craig Wadsworth, also died in the crash. Wadsworth: “A motorhome helper for six years, and my dear friend. Several NASCAR circles referred to Wadsworth as a loved member of the NASCAR family. The statement issued on behalf of the family defined Emma as “a wonderful human being with a kind soul” and Ryder as “an active, curious and infinitely joyful child.”3
5. NASCAR Community in Mourning
Tributes came flooding in from throughout the world of motorsports. Clint Bowyer tweeted, “What an incredible talent behind any wheel regardless of the situation… Great guy that always found a way to help those in need, and most importantly, a superfamily man.” Speaking on their racing rivalry and Biffle’s tireless charity work, Jeff Gordon said, “Thoughts are with the Biffle family and all those affected.” Justin Marks of Trackhouse Racing said, “We have lost a family that has done things well beyond the allows of the racetrack.”
6. Aircraft Familiarization
The plane in question is the 1981 model Cessna C550 Citation II. This series of jets has had a reputation for being very safe. When it comes to fatalities in transportation, air transport is still the safest mode of transport with a probability ratio of death in air and space transport accidents of 1 in 7,032 compared to other transport possibilities that are much higher. However, in cases where accidents happen especially those that involve celebrities these accidents receive widespread publicity.
7. Dealing with Collective Grief
For NASCAR enthusiasts and the sports world in general, the loss is almost to the point of personal tragedy. According to psychologists, community remembrance and the associated shared grief have a significant impact on the grieving process. To deal with the aftermath of such a tragedy, people can return to their daily routines and try to connect with others who have had similar experiences. Sharing memories on social media platforms, for example, enables the shared remembrance associated with grief.
8. The Investigation Ahead
The cockpit voice recorder, maintenance records, and witness interviews are being reviewed by a 16-person team of investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board. The preliminary results should be complete within 30 days, while the final investigation is expected to be finished between 12 to 18 months. As for now, nothing is confirmed, although efforts are being made to identify who was flying the aircraft, and whether inclement or mechanical factors might have contributed.
In the days that followed the wreck, the NASCAR community has come together in their grief, in remembrance of a man whose life seemed to encompass a fierce competitiveness that existed alongside a generosity of spirit that never wavered. Greg Biffle will be remembered not only by his records, but by the countless lives he touched.
