The estate of the late NASCAR icon Greg Biffle has filed a lawsuit seeking $30 million after a plane crash in December resulted in the deaths of seven individuals.
Among those who perished were Biffle, his wife Christina, their 14-year-old daughter Emma, and 5-year-old son Ryder. The pilot, Dennis Dutton, along with his son Jack Dutton and Craig Wadsworth, also lost their lives in this tragic incident.
In response, the estates of the Duttons have initiated separate wrongful death lawsuits, each valued at $15 million, claiming that Biffle’s Cessna C550 was not adequately maintained.
According to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jack Dutton was acting as co-pilot under his father’s supervision during the flight, which met with disaster shortly after takeoff at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina.
The NTSB later noted that Jack Dutton was “not qualified” to hold a second-in-command position. Early reports indicated that he expressed concern less than ten minutes into the flight, saying, “…we’re having some problems here.”
Moreover, there were issues with starting the left engine at the beginning of the flight.
The tragic loss of Biffle and his family was confirmed by MP Richard Hudson, who expressed deep sorrow over the incident. “These were friends who dedicated themselves to helping others,” he remarked. “Greg was a remarkable NASCAR champion who inspired millions. But he will also be remembered for his extraordinary character and service beyond the racetrack.”
Biffle’s wife Christina and their children, Emma and Ryder, were also victims of the crash.
The investigation into the accident is still ongoing by the NTSB.
At 55 years old at the time of his passing, Biffle was recognized among the 75 Greatest NASCAR Drivers and achieved 19 wins throughout his Cup Series career.
In a troubling turn of events, their family home was burglarized just weeks after the tragic accident, with authorities considering it a possible internal crime.
