2025 North Carolina Cessna Citation II crash: Difference between revisions

 

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| occurrence_type = Accident

| occurrence_type = Accident

| date = {{Start date|2025|12|18}}

| date = {{Start date|2025|12|18}}

| summary = Possible engine failure, Crashed shortly after takeoff, under investigation

| summary = Possible engine failure, Crashed shortly after takeoff, under investigation

| aircraft_type = [[Cessna 550]]

| aircraft_type = [[Cessna 550]]

| tail_number = {{Airreg|N|257BW}}

| origin = [[Statesville Regional Airport]], [[Statesville, North Carolina]], U.S.

| origin = [[Statesville Regional Airport]], [[Statesville, North Carolina]], U.S.

| stopover =

| stopover =

| ICAO =

| ICAO =

| callsign = {{Airreg|N|257BW}}

| callsign =

| site = [[Statesville Regional Airport]], [[Statesville, North Carolina]], U.S.

| site = [[Statesville Regional Airport]], [[Statesville, North Carolina]], U.S.

| coordinates = {{Coord|35|45|49|N|80|56|20|W|region:US-NC_type:event|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates = {{Coord|35|45|49|N|80|56|20|W|region:US-NC_type:event|display=inline,title}}

2025 aviation accident in Statesville, North Carolina, U.S.

2025 North Carolina Cessna Citation II crash

Date	December 18, 2025 (2025-12-18)
Summary	Possible engine failure, Crashed shortly after takeoff, under investigation
Site	Statesville Regional Airport, Statesville, North Carolina, U.S. 35°45′49″N 80°56′20″W / 35.76361°N 80.93889°W / 35.76361; -80.93889
Aircraft type	Cessna 550
Operator	GB Aviation Leasing LLC
Call sign	NOVEMBER 257 BRAVO WHISKEY
Registration	N257BW[1]
Flight origin	Statesville Regional Airport, Statesville, North Carolina, U.S.
Destination	Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
Occupants	7
Passengers	5
Crew	2
Fatalities	7
Survivors	0

On December 18, 2025, a Cessna 550 business jet crashed in Statesville, North Carolina. The crash occurred between 10:15 and 10:20 am local time. Officials said that at least seven people were killed in the crash, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife and his two children.

Statesville is located around 45 miles (72 km) north of Charlotte.^[2] Statesville Airport (IATA: SVH, ICAO: KSVH, FAA LID: SVH) is a small regional airport without a control tower.^[3] The airport is owned by the city of Statesville.^[4]

Shortly after the crash, low clouds and light rain were reported in the area. The area had a visibility of less than three miles.^[3][5]

The plane, a Cessna C550 business jet, was owned by GB Aviation Leasing LLC, which was owned by retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.^[4][6] The plane had the tail number N257BW and was manufactured in 1981.^[6][7] Flight records show that the plane was scheduled to fly to Florida and spend most of the rest of the day there.^[5] The plane had seven occupants.^[8]

At 10:06 am, the plane departed from Statesville Airport from runway 10.^[3][4] The plane traveled around 10 miles (16 km) before turning sharply to the left back towards the airport and did not exceed an altitude of 2,000 feet (610 m).^{[3][dubious – discuss]} Upon returning to the airport, the plane crashed at the east side of the runway while attempting to land.^[9][10]

ADS-B data shows that the aircraft flew a looping pattern near Statesville Regional Airport at low altitude before the crash with the final recorded altitude at approximately 925 feet.^[11]

All seven occupants were killed in the crash. The victims were identified as Biffle, his daughter Emma, his wife Cristina, their son Ryder, Craig Wadsworth, pilot Dennis Dutton and his son Jack Dutton.^{[12][8][13][14]}

The wreckage caught fire after the crash.^[3][15] Following the crash, Statesville Airport was closed due to debris from the crash on the runway.^[15][16]

The cause of the crash is unknown.^[2][3] The National Transportation Safety Board has begun an investigation into the incident.^[16]