Investigators Sift Through Wreckage Near Statesville After Fatal Crash

A business jet that departed Statesville Regional Airport on Dec. 18 returned to the field shortly after takeoff and crashed while attempting to land, killing all seven people aboard, federal and state officials said. The airplane, identified as a Cessna 550 built in 1981, struck light poles and a treeline short of the runway and erupted into a large post impact fire, leaving a scattered field of wreckage that investigators began processing on Dec. 19.

Among the dead was retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. Authorities identified other victims as members of his family, including two children named Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14. Reports provided to investigators included names of others aboard, which investigators have said include pilot Dennis Dutton, his son Jack Dutton and Craig Wadsworth. Officials are still confirming the full roster and say they are trying to determine who was at the controls when the jet returned to the airport.

Eyewitnesses at the nearby Lakewood Golf Club described the jet flying unusually low as it returned and said debris landed on the ninth hole. One golfer, Joshua Green of Mooresville, said, “We were like, ‘Oh my gosh! That’s way too low. That was scary.’” Golfers and other bystanders attempted to shelter as the aircraft passed low overhead and the crash produced a sudden and dramatic fireball.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the federal probe with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration and state troopers. NTSB member Michael Graham told reporters this is “the beginning of a very long process,” and emphasized that the agency will not assign blame while on scene. Investigators described a lengthy, scattered debris field that will require planned removal to protect evidence, and they paused a drone survey during windy conditions as crews secured the site.

Investigators reported recovering a cockpit voice recorder from the wreckage and have begun detailed documentation and forensic examination of available components. Their work will include analysis of flight recording devices, airframe and engine systems, maintenance and registration records, and interviews with anyone with knowledge of the flight and the aircraft’s recent condition. Flight records show the airplane was registered to a company run by Greg Biffle, and FAA files indicate Biffle held ratings to fly helicopters and single and multi engine airplanes.

Weather at the time has been described as cloudy with drizzle in some accounts, but officials have not attributed the crash to weather and say they will consider meteorological factors alongside mechanical and human performance questions. Investigators also noted inconsistencies in early reports about the number of pilots aboard and stressed that determining who was operating the aircraft is a central part of the inquiry.

The NTSB process typically includes on scene examination, laboratory analysis of recovered components, and a published probable cause report that can take months to complete. For families, friends and the local community, the immediate focus is on recovery and answers. Federal investigators said their methodical work is intended to preserve evidence and provide an authoritative account of what led to a flight that ended in loss of life near a small regional airport.