NTSB probes fatal Cessna jet crash near Statesville, NC, killing Greg Biffle

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash of a Cessna C550 business jet that killed seven people, including retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and members of his family, near Statesville Regional Airport (KSVH), North Carolina. The twinjet departed KSVH but crashed less than 10 minutes later while attempting to return to the airport in cloudy, drizzly conditions. The aircraft struck light poles and trees approximately one-third of a mile short of the runway threshold, resulting in a post-impact fire.

NTSB investigators have recovered the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) but noted that no emergency radio calls were received from the jet prior to impact. Aviation safety experts analyzing flight data indicated that the aircraft experienced significant fluctuations in speed and altitude during the brief flight, including a rapid climb from 1,800 feet to 4,000 feet before descending sharply. This erratic flight path suggests the crew encountered a critical issue requiring an immediate, high-stress return, ultimately resulting in the jet being "too low" to execute a safe landing.

Crucially, the NTSB is scrutinizing the composition and qualifications of the flight crew. While three individuals with pilot licenses were aboard, including the registered pilot Dennis Dutton, experts noted that Dutton was required to fly the C550 with a qualified co-pilot. Neither Biffle nor Dutton’s son, Jack, possessed the necessary second-in-command type rating for that specific multi-engine jet model, raising serious questions about the operational compliance of the flight. The Cessna 550 series is generally considered reliable, with previous accidents often attributed to poor pilot decision-making, according to former NTSB investigators.