NASCAR Pilot Greg Biffle: Plane Crash Details & Investigation
- Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle was a passenger, not the pilot, when the Cessna C550 crashed in Statesville, North Carolina, on december 17, 2025, killing all seven people...
- The NTSB's preliminary report determined that the pilot, Dennis Dutton, experienced issues with malfunctioning gauges shortly after takeoff from Statesville Regional Airport.
- Dennis Dutton, a retired airline pilot, was the sole qualified pilot in command.
Greg Biffle Plane Crash: Pilot Error and Lack of Copilot Qualification Identified
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Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle was a passenger, not the pilot, when the Cessna C550 crashed in Statesville, North Carolina, on december 17, 2025, killing all seven people on board, according to a report released by the national Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on January 30, 2026.
Circumstances of the Crash
The NTSB’s preliminary report determined that the pilot, Dennis Dutton, experienced issues with malfunctioning gauges shortly after takeoff from Statesville Regional Airport. the full preliminary report (AM26FA001) details the sequence of events leading up to the attempted return to the airport and subsequent crash. while both Biffle and Dutton’s son, Jack Dutton, held pilot licenses, neither was qualified to act as a copilot on the flight.
Pilot Qualifications and Flight Crew
Dennis Dutton, a retired airline pilot, was the sole qualified pilot in command. Aviation Week’s coverage of the NTSB report highlights that the absence of a qualified copilot contributed to the severity of the situation when the aircraft encountered mechanical difficulties. The report specifically states that while Greg Biffle and Jack Dutton possessed pilot certificates,thay did not meet the requirements for a second-in-command on a C550.
Mechanical Issues Reported
Prior to the crash, the pilot reported issues with the aircraft’s gauges.The NTSB report indicates that the pilot attempted to return to Statesville Regional Airport after noticing these malfunctions. The federal Aviation Governance’s (FAA) accident report on the incident (N550JS) confirms the reported gauge malfunctions as a contributing factor under investigation.
Investigation Status
The NTSB’s investigation is ongoing, and a final report detailing the cause of the crash is expected to be released at a later date. The NTSB’s official investigation page for AM26FA001 will be updated with further findings as they become available. The investigation will focus on the mechanical failures, pilot actions, and the regulatory compliance of the flight.