Two wrongful death lawsuits have been filed regarding a North Carolina plane crash that claimed the lives of seven people, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. Biffle’s wife, Cristina, their two children, family friend Craig Wadsworth and the two pilots, Dennis Dutton and his son Jack, were also killed in the tragic incident.
What happened in the plane crash?
The crash occurred on Dec. 19, 2025, at Statesville Regional Airport, killing all seven passengers on board the Cessna 500 Citation II aircraft. According to the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) initial report released following the incident, Dennis Dutton was flying the plane, with Jack Dutton acting as copilot, at the time of the fatal incident.
While the flight had safely departed the airport at around 10 a.m. and made the flight without disruption, it was during the plane’s attempt to return to land that some of its instruments began to malfunction. Dennis Dutton briefly turned control over to his son, but the aircraft eventually hit the ground and erupted into flames.
The crash was witnessed by golfers playing near the airport, and authorities soon arrived on the scene, but there were no survivors.
A statement released by the Biffle family shortly after the incident said:
“Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives.”
Greg Biffle was also commemorated for his extensive career in NASCAR, as well as his humanitarian efforts during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
What comes next?
As well as determining the factors behind the crash, the NTSB’s preliminary investigation also concluded that neither Greg Biffle nor Jack Dutton held the necessary qualifications on their pilot licenses to serve as second-in-command on the aircraft.
The Dutton estate is now filing two wrongful death lawsuits for the father and son, according to Reuters. Each lawsuit is seeking $15 million in damages. Primarily, the suits claim that Greg Biffle, as the owner of the aircraft, was responsible for its maintenance. They go on to allege that improper maintenance contributed to the crash and ultimately the deaths of all seven passengers.
Additionally, the lawsuits claim that Biffle did not ensure that the flight had sufficient crew at the time of the crash, according to PEOPLE.
The NTSB is still investigating the accident but has yet to release the final report.
What are your thoughts on the outcome of this case? Join the discussion in the comments.
