A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report reveals that a series of flight control and instrument failures occurred just minutes before a deadly plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport on December 18, 2025. Seven people died in the crash, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, their children Emma (14) and Ryder (5), and three other passengers.
The NTSB stated that the Cessna Citation 550, registration N257BW, operating as a Part 91 personal flight, was destroyed after hitting approach lights, trees, and fencing while attempting to return to the airport shortly after takeoff.
Takeoff, return, and final approach
The NTSB reported that the aircraft departed Statesville at approximately 10:06 a.m. under visual flight rules. The pilot intended to activate instrument flight rules clearance once airborne, with Sarasota, Florida, as the destination. The weather at the time included calm winds, drizzle, and ceilings that later dropped to broken clouds at 1,200 feet, with five miles of visibility.
Preliminary GPS data indicated the jet made a climbing left turn after takeoff, reaching approximately 2,200 feet above mean sea level before continuing to turn and beginning to descend. The right-seat passenger tried multiple times to contact air traffic control to activate the IFR flight plan but was unsuccessful due to controller workload, the report noted.
As the descent continued, the crew discussed climbing to a higher altitude. According to the NTSB, the autopilot either disengaged or was manually disengaged around 10:10 a.m. The aircraft then turned back toward the airport and prepared for a visual approach to Runway 28. Recorded data revealed a steady decrease in airspeed and altitude on final approach until impact.
Cockpit activity and instrument problems before the Greg Biffle crash
The preliminary report described several cockpit issues during the flight. The cockpit voice recorder captured the pilot stating that his altitude indicator was malfunctioning and that other left-side flight instruments might also be unreliable. Data from the Garmin GTN-750 showed that airspeed and heading data intermittently stopped recording during the flight, then resumed.
Investigators noted that control of the aircraft briefly transferred to the right-seat passenger at about 4,500 feet. There were no recorded indications that the right-side flight instruments were malfunctioning. The pilot later resumed control as the aircraft descended toward the airport.
The report also noted periods of degraded cockpit audio quality, which reduced the clarity of recorded conversations. Despite this, investigators confirmed the crew visually acquired the runway and configured the aircraft for landing, extending flaps and landing gear.
Impact, wreckage, and investigation focus
The NTSB identified the first point of impact as a runway approach light roughly 1,380 feet from the Runway 28 threshold. The aircraft then struck more light structures, trees, and the perimeter fence before coming to rest near the runway blast area. A post-impact fire consumed most of the fuselage and damaged both wings and engines.
The report noted that both engines remained attached to their pylons, and investigators found no evidence of uncontained engine failure. All major flight control surfaces were within the debris field, and there was no sign of pre-impact structural breakup.
A final report with probable cause findings and any safety recommendations is expected in 12 to 18 months.
Greg Biffle, 55, a veteran NASCAR driver with 19 Cup Series wins, was en route with his family when tragedy struck. The crash has shaken the motorsports community, with memorials held, including one for daughter Emma on January 4 at the Cain Center in Cornelius. In a bizarre twist, Greg Biffle’s home was burglarized weeks later, amid ongoing probes.
The post Greg Biffle Plane Crash Details Revealed in NTSB Preliminary Report appeared first on Sports.
No comments:
Post a Comment