Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his wife and children died in a plane crash Thursday at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina.
The Cessna C550 commercial jet carrying Mr. Biffle, 55, and five others crashed while trying to land at the airport, about 41.5 miles north of Charlotte, at about 10:20 a.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said.
“My desk faces where it happened. I was just sitting here, and then I heard a loud boom, and our hangar shook a little. I got up to look and that’s when I saw the flames and fire everywhere,” witness Victoria, an aviation company employee who did not provide her surname, told CNN.
Another witness, Jeff Coley, heard the plane fly over his house. He told WBTV-TV that “It sounded like it had taken off from the airport — and then — you know the sound they make when they’re [an airplane] is dive bombing? Zoomin’? It was really screaming.”
Among the dead were Mr. Biffle’s wife, Christina Biffle, and their children, according to a social media post by Rep. Richard Hudson, a North Carolina Republican who is also co-chair of the Congressional Motorsports Caucus.
Two pilots were also on board and died in the crash.
Accuweather reported that there was drizzle and clouds at the Statesville airport at the time of the crash.
Mr. Hudson wrote, “Greg was a great NASCAR champion who thrilled millions of fans. But he was an extraordinary person as well, and will be remembered for his service to others as much as for his fearlessness on the track. The Biffles flew hundreds of rescue missions in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. … Our prayers are with their family, friends, and everyone grieving this unimaginable loss.”
The plane bore the FAA registration number N257BW, according to aviation periodical Aviation International News. The Cessna is listed as being registered to GB Aviation Leasing LLC, a company managed by Mr. Biffle, according to North Carolina state business records.
The plane was scheduled to fly to Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport in Florida and to Treasure Cay International Airport in The Bahamas later Thursday before then flying back to Statesville out of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport on Thursday night, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.
During his driving career, Mr. Biffle was named Rookie of the Year in NASCAR’s third division in 1998, won the championship series in the division in 2000, and was named Rookie of the Year in NASCAR’s second division in 2001. He won the championship series in the second division in 2002. Mr. Biffle also won the Southern 500 race in NASCAR’s top division in 2005 and 2006.
