Fatal Private Jet Crash Shocks North Carolina
Fatal Private Jet Crash Shocks North Carolina
A tragic Cessna 550 business jet crash in Statesville, North Carolina, claimed seven lives on December 18, 2025, shortly after takeoff from Statesville Airport. The incident, reported by local authorities, unfolded between 10:15 and 10:20 a.m. amid low clouds and light rain reducing visibility to under three miles. Eyewitnesses described a sharp left turn back toward the runway after traveling just 10 miles, culminating in a devastating impact on the east side.
Victims and Circumstances
Among the deceased were retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, their children Emma and Ryder, along with pilot Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and passenger Craig Wadsworth. The 1981-manufactured plane, tail number N257BW and owned by Biffle's GB Aviation Leasing LLC, was en route to Florida when disaster struck at low altitude below 2,000 feet. Flight records confirm the brief doomed journey.
Aftermath and Investigations
Wreckage ignited post-crash, scattering debris that forced Statesville Airport's closure. Aviation experts speculate weather and mechanical issues as preliminary factors, with federal probes underway to determine the exact cause. This heartbreaking event underscores private aviation risks, prompting renewed safety discussions.
About the People Mentioned
Greg Biffle
Greg Biffle was an American NASCAR driver born in Vancouver, Washington, and raised in Camas, reaching age 55 by 2024.[3][2] Discovered nationally in the 1995 NASCAR Winter Heat Series, he gained attention racing on ESPN's Thursday Night Thunder, leading champion Benny Parsons to recommend him to team owner Jack Roush.[1][2] Biffle achieved immediate success with Roush, earning Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 1998 and its championship in 2000.[1][2] He repeated the feat in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Rookie of the Year in 2001 and the 2002 title, becoming the first driver to win championships in both series.[1][2] In the Cup Series, over 14 full-time seasons and 515 starts through 2016, he secured 19 wins, six top-10 points finishes—including second place in 2005—and was a consistent Playoff contender.[1] Overall, he amassed 56 NASCAR national series victories: 19 Cup, 20 Xfinity, and 17 Truck.[2] He returned briefly in 2022 for five Cup races, including the Daytona 500.[2] Named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers, Biffle was nominated for the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2024.[1][2] Post-racing, Biffle remained active in aviation and hot rods while showcasing humanitarian efforts. In September 2024, he piloted his helicopter into hazardous areas devastated by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, delivering critical aid to isolated communities and earning praise as a "humble humanitarian."[2] Biffle’s career exemplified tenacity during NASCAR's competitive peak, though he never captured a Cup championship.[1][4] Tragically, in late 2024 or early 2025, he perished in a plane crash alongside family members and others, deeply affecting the NASCAR community.[2]
About the Organizations Mentioned
GB Aviation Leasing LLC
GB Aviation Leasing LLC is a small, privately held aircraft-ownership and leasing entity registered in North Carolina that owns and manages business aircraft, including at least one Cessna Citation II (Cessna 550) listed on the FAA registry under tail number N257BW[2]. GB Aviation Leasing appears to function as an owner/operator vehicle for corporate or private flight operations rather than a large commercial lessor[2]. Public records and news reporting identify GB Aviation Leasing LLC as affiliated with retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, with media and the FAA registry showing the company as the registered owner of the Cessna involved in the fatal December 18, 2025, crash at Statesville Regional Airport[3][4]. Initial reporting and a later encyclopedic entry state the jet was owned by GB Aviation Leasing and link the company to Biffle[3][4][5]. History and activities: GB Aviation Leasing’s documented public footprint is limited to aircraft registration records and news coverage tied to the 2025 accident; there is no widely published corporate website, press releases, or detailed corporate history in the public record discovered in available sources[2][3]. The FAA registry record provides the company’s mailing address in Mooresville, North Carolina and technical details of the Cessna 550 registration and airworthiness entries[2]. Key achievements and notable aspects: Because GB Aviation Leasing is a small, private LLC, there are no publicly recorded industry awards, fleet milestones, or leasing-platform achievements found in searched sources; the company’s notability in open sources arises principally from being the registered owner of the Cessna that crashed in December 2025 and its reported affiliation with a public figure, Greg Biffle[3][4][5]. Current status: As publicly reported, the aircraft registered to GB Aviation Leasing was destroyed in the Statesville crash and is the subject of
