Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle wasn’t flying his jet when it crashed last month, resulting in the deaths of six passengers, according to a report released by investigators on Friday.
The preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that while there was an experienced pilot in control, the individual in the co-pilot seat wasn’t qualified for that role.
Alongside Biffle were his pilot, retired aviator Dennis Dutton, and his son Jack, all of whom are certified pilots. They detected an instrument malfunction just before the Cessna C550 went down while attempting to return to Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina.
The aircraft impacted the ground about a third of a mile from the runway, resulting in a significant fire.
The NTSB indicated that Jack Dutton occupied the co-pilot seat, but neither he nor Biffle possessed the necessary licenses to act as co-pilots on that aircraft. Additionally, Jack Dutton had around 175 flying hours under his belt.
Jeff Gazzetti, an aviation safety consultant involved in the crash investigation for both the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), suggested that the absence of a skilled co-pilot could have significantly contributed to the crash. “This plane needs two trained pilots. If something goes wrong and there’s no experienced co-pilot, it can lead to disastrous situations,” he commented. “With two qualified pilots, the landing might have ended safely.”
The report noted that the thrust reverser indicator light had malfunctioned prior to takeoff. Additionally, after takeoff, several instruments, including the pilot’s altimeter on the left side of the cockpit, stopped functioning. The pilot briefly handed control to the co-pilot in an attempt to resolve these issues, according to the report.
The specific cause of the aircraft’s issues remains unclear at this stage of the investigation. The cockpit voice recorder recorded intermittent audio, and NTSB experts have just started analyzing what caused the crash. Jack Dutton communicated over the radio, “We’re experiencing some problems,” while the recorder caught snippets of discussions among the pilots regarding the malfunctions.
John Cox, the CEO of Safety Operating Systems, posited that instrument failures might have played a larger role in the crash compared to the co-pilot’s lack of experience. “If flight instruments fail while flying above the clouds, it can become very serious,” he explained.
Nonetheless, the report mentioned that the pilot managed to address the instrument issues prior to attempting to land.
After a few minutes of discussion, the pilots identified the problem, during which Biffle hinted at the possible issue without explicitly stating what it was.
At that moment, the cockpit audio returned to normal, and there was no further mention of the instrument problems before the crash.
Investigators are still trying to figure out why the plane was flying so low and slow, as it clipped two landing light poles before crashing. Initial assessments of the wreckage showed the throttle in the fully open position. Gazzetti noted that this might suggest the pilots recognized the plane was too low and attempted to gain altitude and potentially turn around.
Tragically, Biffle’s wife Christina and their two children, Ryder, aged 5, and Emma, aged 14, were among those who perished, as was Biffle’s friend, Craig Wadsworth.
At 55, Biffle boasts over 50 victories across three NASCAR series, including 19 in the Cup Series. He also secured the Truck Series Championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002.
In 2024, Biffle earned recognition for his humanitarian efforts after Hurricane Helen struck the U.S., using his private helicopter to provide relief supplies to remote flooded areas in western North Carolina.
This month, hundreds from the NASCAR community gathered in Charlotte to pay tribute to Biffle at a public memorial service.
The jet had taken off from Statesville Regional Airport, about 72 miles north of Charlotte, just 10 minutes before the crash while trying to return for an emergency landing. All evidence pointed toward the plane needing to land quickly due to an issue, and heading to Charlotte didn’t seem like a viable option.
During its brief flight, the plane’s speed and altitude fluctuated significantly, quickly climbing from 1,800 to 4,000 feet before descending again. Moments before the crash, it was only a few hundred feet above the ground.
Having an unqualified co-pilot is a breach of FAA regulations, which, under normal conditions, could lead to the suspension of licenses for both the pilot and co-pilot. However, the FAA may not have been aware of this unless someone reported the violation.
