[A.W.Dille]

Regrettably former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family perished yesterday in a plane crash in Statesville, North Carolina. There were also the pilot and two friends of the Biffle family also died in the crash.
Greg was a Craftsman truck and (formerly)Busch series Champion and also won several races driving for Jack Roush.
Greg was one of the first to fly needed supplies to victims of Hurricane Helene in 2024.
He will be greatly missed in racing circles and remembered for his aid to the Hurricane victims.

[scott70]

I saw that today… just horrible. RIP.

[tom s]

Sad,when he was driving we used to talk about boats and fishing,never about racing.Good dude.RIP

[carcrazy]

Sad news, may he and his family rest in peace.

[KS circutguy]

He was a Vancouver WA resident when he started his racing career, never forgot that and was a good soul who helped many people.
RIP Greg may peace be with his family.

[KS circutguy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QWQD_U0Xm0
Good lord...

[vertigto]

Very sad...RIP.

I've read that many amateur pilot crashes could have been prevented with a proper/thorough pre-flight check.

[KS circutguy]

It has been reported he had a hired pilot, he was co-pilot.

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by vertigto

Very sad...RIP.

I've read that many amateur pilot crashes could have been prevented with a proper/thorough pre-flight check.

Biffle had professional pilots who flew his Citation II.

[turbo69bird]

I’m a pilot and it’s very unforgiving. You’d better be on you r game very single time your in that airplane.

There were radical climbs and descents in the flight data.

There was a nascar racer that died in the north east a. Few years ago as well Busch series as I recall. Flew out of my airport at the time.

Had a family friend die in a small jet not long ago because of a defect in the way the parking brake worked , known issue w that airplane for years, he’d still have made it if it hadn’t been for a company putting up a new utility pole that was 10 ft taller than the old one at the end of the runway.

There’s so many tragic crashes and quite often you’d be amazed. You just don’t hear about all of them
Just higher profile ones.


Sadly when you’re flying a high dollar aircraft you think your safer the you really are. , the technology in manny cases causes the issues.

May the RIP sad to see anyone go out like this …

[KS circutguy]

Interesting commentary on the crash.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdM1UO9tYvY
at 6:32 min make he mentions the issues these birds had with the front nose luggage compartments latch not locking correctly and has killed engines when luggage goes into the intakes. Among other ones.

[turbo69bird]

This guy does a good job watch for the altitude changes.

https://youtu.be/ljQ9nOrUEwo?si=1EnbPTYULZoS_WGU

[KS circutguy]

The NTSB investigation of the crash of a Cessna Citation at the Statesville, NC regional airport.
NTSB video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTmVAqy36d8

[KS circutguy]

So after seeing the above NTSB video nobody noticed the missing starboard front compartment hatch or the engine spinner gone. +

@dankuettel5063
5 minutes ago
I did aircraft handling for 16 years at an FBO and I can tell you that many times I've alerted the pilot(s) in Citations of unlocked storage lockers and Ive even witnessed a jet returning with one of the forward storage door open. Ive also held up keys that were left in the lock only to have the pilot shut down and retrieve those keys. People dont give enough credit to what attention to detail by another set of eyes can do to save your hide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvIBpi6QyW8

[KS circutguy]

Update
Actual voice transmission before fatal crash.
Probable Cause; Dan Gryder
The Greg Biffle Plane Crash: What Really Happened.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKiPUBFFgQM

[60sstuff]

I just watched this Dan Gryder video this morning and it looks clear cut.

It is so tragic and unfortunate that this even happened, but as in many cases human error is the cause.

I’m always interested in plane crashes because as a little boy my Father flew a corporate jet for an oil firm out of Springfield, Illinois back in the 60’s - 70’s.
Dad was the chief pilot on a Dassault Falcon 20 for many years, plus he flew a Cessna Citation II several times.

Thank for sharing.

[burd]

Just fly commercial, way safer

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by burd

Just fly commercial, way safer

Marginally safer. Airlines CAN defer maintenance; GA aircraft can’t.

[burd]

I traveled for a living for 30 years. Way safer.

[Limelight69]

Wow. Crazy sad. So avoidable. As a pilot myself it’s hard to imagine the thought process here. That’s a lot of low altitude maneuvering in an underpowered aircraft with a lot of drag going on.
Even if you’re set on returning to the same airport, get yourself to altitude, clean things up and get set up for a proper approach. But knowing Charlotte was only 32 miles away where you had a towered airport and “help” makes it even more sad.