Greg Biffle Plane Crash: Cause, 7 Dead, Wrongful Death Suits

When a private plane goes down, the ripple effects extend far beyond the wreckage. The December 2025 crash of a Cessna Citation II near Statesville, North Carolina, claimed the life of NASCAR champion Greg Biffle alongside six others, and the aftermath has already drawn two wrongful death lawsuits. This article walks through the confirmed details of the tragedy, where the investigation stands, and what the legal fights reveal about aircraft ownership and pilot qualifications.

Date of crash: December 18, 2025 · Deaths: 7 (including Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, two children, two pilots, and one passenger) · Survivors: 0 · Greg Biffle net worth: Approx. $15 million · Greg Biffle age at death: 55

Seven key details about Greg Biffle, one pattern: his racing career built a public persona that now collides with the legal and safety questions raised by the crash.

How many people died in the plane crash with Greg Biffle?

What was the total death count?

The crash claimed seven lives. ESPN (NASCAR coverage) initially reported the number as seven, and ABC11 (ABC affiliate reporting) later confirmed the identities of all seven: Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina Biffle, their children Emma and Ryder Biffle, pilots Dennis Dutton and Jack Dutton, and passenger Craig Wadsworth. No one survived.

Who were the victims?

• Greg Biffle – NASCAR driver, 55
• Cristina Biffle – wife
• Emma Biffle – daughter
• Ryder Biffle – son
• Dennis Dutton – pilot
• Jack Dutton – copilot, son of Dennis
• Craig Wadsworth – passenger

The Dutton father-son duo had been flying together for the trip. According to ESPN, Jack Dutton was sitting in the copilot seat.

The implication: the only professional pilots on board were a father and son, and neither held the required endorsement to act as copilot on that aircraft type.

What caused Greg Biffle’s airplane to crash?

Pilot error or mechanical failure?

The NTSB investigation is still open, but early findings point in one direction. ESPN reported that the NTSB has not released a final report, and that aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti said the lack of an experienced copilot “may have been a key factor.” No evidence of engine or structural failure has emerged.

What does the NTSB report say?

As of early 2026, the NTSB has not published a probable cause. The lawsuits, however, allege inadequate maintenance and upkeep – claims that will be tested in court. ESPN notes that the suits target Biffle’s estate as the aircraft owner.

The pattern: until the NTSB rules, the litigation will continue to rely on allegations rather than facts.

Who was flying the plane when Greg Biffle died?

Was Greg Biffle at the controls?

No. Multiple sources confirm Biffle was a passenger. ESPN reported that the NTSB said Jack Dutton occupied the copilot seat, while Dennis Dutton acted as pilot-in-command. Biffle held a pilot license but lacked the type rating needed to act as copilot on the Citation II.

Who was the pilot?

• Pilot-in-command: Dennis Dutton
• Copilot: Jack Dutton (his son)

ESPN also reported that neither Jack Dutton nor Biffle had the required endorsement on their pilot licenses to serve as copilot on that plane. That licensing gap is now a central thread in the wrongful death suits.

Why this matters: if the lawsuits succeed, they could set a precedent that aircraft owners are liable not just for maintenance but for ensuring every person in the cockpit is properly rated.

Is Greg Biffle a millionaire? Greg Biffle Net Worth

How much is Greg Biffle worth?

At the time of his death, Biffle’s net worth was estimated at approximately $15 million, according to Wikipedia (community-maintained biographical reference). That figure aligns with his career earnings from NASCAR, where he won 19 Cup Series races and multiple endorsements.

What were his main income sources?

• NASCAR racing – prize money and salary from Roush Fenway Racing
• Endorsement deals with brands such as 3M and Scotts
• Investments and real estate

His wealth explains why the Dutton estates filed suit against his estate – they see a deep pocket capable of paying the $15 million per claim they are seeking. ABC11 also reported that Biffle’s ex-wife Nicole filed a notice of claim for $10 million on behalf of their 14-year-old daughter’s estate.

The pattern: wealth both invites legal action and provides a potential fund for recovery.

Who is Greg Biffle’s ex-wife? Does Greg Biffle have an ex-wife?

How many times was Greg Biffle married?

Biffle was married twice. His first marriage was to Nicole Biffle; they divorced before he married Cristina, who died in the crash. ABC11 reported that Nicole Biffle filed a notice of claim in February 2026 on behalf of the estate of their 14-year-old daughter, seeking at least $10 million for wrongful death.

What is his ex-wife’s name?

Nicole Biffle. No children were born from his first marriage, but Nicole’s claim involves the daughter she had with Biffle, who survived the crash. Wikipedia notes that Biffle’s second wife, Cristina, was his longtime partner and mother of his two younger children who also died.

The pattern: the divorce settlement and the crash have created a complex legal web – two lawsuits from the Dutton estates, one from Nicole Biffle, and potential future claims from other family members.

Timeline

• December 23, 1969 – Greg Biffle born in Vancouver, Washington (Wikipedia)
• 2000s – NASCAR career peak; 19 Cup Series wins (Wikipedia)
• December 18, 2025 – Cessna Citation II crashes after takeoff, killing all seven aboard (ESPN)
• Days after crash – NTSB investigation launched; identities of victims released
• Weeks after crash – First reports of the crash and deaths; ongoing NTSB work
• Early 2026 – Two wrongful death lawsuits filed by the Dutton estates; Nicole Biffle files a separate claim (ABC11)

The contrast between confirmed facts and open questions highlights how much remains unresolved.

Expert perspectives

“The lack of an experienced copilot may have been a key factor in the crash.”

Jeff Guzzetti, aviation safety consultant, speaking to ESPN

The lawsuits allege that Greg Biffle, as aircraft owner, “failed to properly maintain the aircraft and ensure it was airworthy.”

Court filing, as reported by ABC11

The crash of the plane owned by a NASCAR millionaire has become a cautionary tale about the gap between wealth and aviation safety. For the families of Dennis Dutton, Jack Dutton, and Craig Wadsworth, the legal fight is about accountability – but also about a system that allowed a father and son to fly a complex jet without the proper credentials. For the Biffle estate, the cost of that oversight may reach $40 million across the three lawsuits. The NTSB report, when it arrives, will add hard data to the emotional and legal wreckage. For anyone who owns or flies a light jet, the takeaway is clear: check the licenses, check the maintenance logs, and never assume that wealth covers the gaps.

Related reading: **Anton Yelchin Death: Accident, Jeep Recall, and Cause**

The ongoing wrongful death lawsuits are examined in depth in Greg Biffle plane crash lawsuits.

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