Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and members of his immediate family were reported killed after a Cessna Citation II business jet crashed while attempting to land at Statesville Regional Airport (SVH) in North Carolina on December 18, 2025, according to local media reports and individuals with direct personal ties to the flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that a Cessna 550 crashed at approximately 10:20 a.m. local time while returning to Statesville shortly after takeoff. Authorities said six people were on board, and all were killed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation and has not yet formally released the identities of the victims.
The aircraft, registered N257BW, was owned by GB Aviation Leasing, a company linked to Biffle through public FAA records. Flight-tracking data indicates the jet departed Statesville at around 10:07 a.m. bound for Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) before returning to land roughly 10 minutes later.
Local television station WCNC, citing Iredell County officials, reported that Biffle was among those killed. Further identification details were shared publicly by Garrett Mitchell, a YouTuber known as Cleetus McFarland, who said in a Facebook post that Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their two children were traveling to Florida to visit him at the time of the crash. Authorities have not confirmed those details.
Emergency responders found the aircraft fully engulfed in flames near the end of the runway, according to local fire officials. A witness near the airport told WSOC-TV that the aircraft appeared “very low” before impact, followed by a large explosion. Officials have not commented on whether weather or mechanical issues contributed to the accident.
Fog and reduced visibility were present in the area at the time, though investigators have not cited weather as a factor. Airport officials closed Statesville Regional Airport following the crash to allow emergency crews and investigators to work the scene.
The FAA said the NTSB will provide updates as the investigation progresses. An on-site briefing was expected following the arrival of federal investigators.
Biffle, 55, competed in NASCAR’s top series for more than a decade and later became involved in aviation-related charitable and logistics efforts. Authorities said victim identification and notification procedures are ongoing, and additional information will be released when confirmed.
