Dec 19, 2025
3 min read
Officials have confirmed that Greg Biffle, his wife and two children were among those in the small plane that crashed at a regional airport in North Carolina.
Seven dead in US plane crash, including former Nascar pilot and his family
A plane crash at a regional airport in North Carolina has killed seven people, including a former NASCAR driver and his family, the racing group said.
A spokesman for the highway said that people at the scene confirmed that Greg Biffle was one of those who traveled on the plane.
The Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport around 10:20 a.m.(15:20 GMT), officials investigating the incident told reporters.
“Greg was more than a championship driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor and a friend to many,” Nascar said in a statement that confirmed Biffle died along with his wife, daughter, son and three others.
"His passion for racing, his integrity and his dedication to fans and fellow competitors left a lasting impression on the sport," the company added.
Beyond racing, Biffle is remembered for helping out in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene last year, when he used a private plane to evacuate stranded residents and deliver supplies.
Tributes poured in for the former driver on Thursday.
"Heartbreaking news from Statesville," North Carolina Governor Josh Stein posted on X. "In addition to his success as a NASCAR driver, Greg Biffle lived a life of courage and compassion and traveled to northern North Carolina after Hurricane Helena."
Motorsport YouTuber Garrett Mitchell wrote on Facebook that Biffle and his family were on their way to spend the afternoon with him.
"Unfortunately, I can confirm that Greg Biffle, his wife Christina, daughter Emma and son Ryder were on the plane... as they were on their way to spend the evening with us," he wrote on Facebook."We are devastated. I am so sorry to share this.
Statesville Airport Director John Ferguson described the aircraft as a corporate jet and said it was already engulfed in flames when it arrived on the scene.
Cessna Cntna C550 is the owner of a private team about Biffle, CBB, CBB, shown.
The plane took off at approximately 10:06 a.m. and was in the air for a short period.Before the plane crashed on the east side of the plane.
Officers are investigating the cause of the accident.
Ferguson told reporters that the Statesville airport will remain closed until further notice while crews clear debris from the runway.
Officials did not release any information about the death or the people on board during their first press conference.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation, has sent a team to investigate the fatal crash.
Statesville Regional Airport (KSVH) is located in the city of Statesville, about 45 minutes north of Charlotte.
It also provides airlines for Fortune 500 companies and many NASCAR sports teams.
Biffle, whose racing career spanned two decades, was named one of NASCAR's top 75 drivers in 2023. The 55-year-old has won 19 Cup Series races in the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series.
According to local NASCAR archives, the Vancouver, Wash., native, nicknamed "Biff," gained national notice in 1995 during the NASCAR Winter Heat Series.
He made a name for himself in the Craftsman Truck Series, winning the 1998 Rookie of the Year and the 2000 series championship.
He was named the Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year in 2001 and won the 2002 championship, becoming the first driver to compete in both the Xfinity Series and a truck.
He founded the Sand Outlaws series of the organization.Although he retired from racing after 2016, he apparently came out of retirement in 2019 for one race at Texas Motor Speedway, which he did not win.
"Racing is racing," he told Nascar.com in 2021. "It's adrenaline, you want to be better than racing, you want to build better and have a faster car. I just enjoy racing."
