Small Aircraft Crashes at Statesville Airport, Owned by Former NASCAR Driver Greg Biffle

A small aircraft crashed Thursday at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina during an attempted landing, with NASCAR veteran Greg Biffle listed as the owner. Biffle, who won 19 Cup Series races over his 20-year career, owns the aircraft through GB Aviation Leasing, according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records.

The plane, a Cessna C550 with tail number N257BW, had just taken off from Statesville before quickly returning for an attempted landing, according to flight data. Meteorologist Brad Panovich confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that the aircraft crashed while trying to land back at the airport, highlighting the swift turnaround after takeoff.

Details regarding the cause of the crash, as well as the status of any passengers or crew, have not yet been released. The incident is under investigation by local authorities and the FAA to determine contributing factors and assess safety measures.