Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle was not piloting the jet when it crashed last month, resulting in the deaths of him and six others, according to a report released Friday by federal safety officials. The report also determined that while an experienced pilot was at the controls, no other person on board was qualified to serve as the required copilot.
The preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board stated that Biffle, the retired airline pilot Dennis Dutton, and Dutton’s son, Jack—all licensed pilots—observed malfunctioning gauges on the Cessna C550 before the aircraft crashed while attempting to return to Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina.
Upon impact, the plane burst into flames approximately a third of a mile (550 meters) from the airport’s runway.
The NTSB clarified that Jack Dutton occupied the copilot seat. However, neither Dutton nor Biffle possessed the necessary endorsement on their pilot’s licenses to function as a copilot on that specific aircraft. Jeff Guzzetti, an aviation safety consultant and former crash investigator for both the NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration, suggested that the absence of a qualified copilot likely contributed to the crash.
“This airplane requires two trained pilots, and if things go wrong and you don’t have a trained pilot, then bad things can happen,” Guzzetti explained. “The airplane might have been able to be landed safely if there were two qualified pilots up front.”
Prior to takeoff, a thrust reverser indicator light was not functioning. Once airborne, the pilot’s altimeter and other instruments began to malfunction.
The exact nature of the aircraft’s issues remains unclear as the investigation progresses, complicated by intermittent failures of the cockpit voice recorder. The NTSB is currently analyzing the data to determine the cause of the crash. Radio communications captured Jack Dutton announcing, “we’re having some problems here,” and portions of the pilots’ conversation regarding the aircraft’s issues were recorded.
The report indicates the pilots were able to address the gauge malfunctions before initiating the return to the airport. The reason for the aircraft’s low and slow approach remains unknown.
Cristina Biffle, his wife, and their children, Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, along with Biffle’s friend, Craig Wadsworth, also perished in the crash.
Biffle, 55, accumulated over 50 race victories across NASCAR’s three series, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also secured the Trucks Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002.
In 2024, Biffle was recognized for his humanitarian work following Hurricane Helene, utilizing his personal helicopter to deliver aid to remote, flooded areas of western North Carolina.
Earlier this month, hundreds from the NASCAR community gathered at an arena in Charlotte to honor Biffle at a public memorial service.
The jet departed Statesville Regional Airport, located approximately 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Charlotte, roughly 10 minutes before the crash during its return approach. Investigators believe a quick landing was necessary due to the aircraft’s problems, making a flight to Charlotte impractical.
Throughout the short flight, the plane’s speed and altitude fluctuated dramatically. At one point, it rapidly ascended from 1,800 feet (550 meters) to 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) before descending again. In the moments before the crash, the aircraft was only a few hundred feet above the ground.
