NASCAR Great Greg Biffle & Wife Believed Victims In Thursday NC Fatal Jet Crash

STATESVILLE, NC. (THECOUNT) — A private aircraft owned by NASCAR driver Greg Biffle crashed Thursday morning while attempting to land at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, according to federal aviation officials and local reports.

Multiple local media outlets reported that Biffle, 55, and his wife, Cristina Grossu, were believed to have been aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash. However, authorities have not publicly confirmed the identities of all occupants, the total number of people on board, or the extent of injuries.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the aircraft, a Cessna C550 business jet, went down around 10:20 a.m. local time on Thursday, Dec. 18. The crash occurred during the landing phase at the airport, which serves the Statesville area in Iredell County.

Records reviewed by local news organizations indicate the aircraft is registered to GB Aviation Leasing, an entity linked to Biffle. The address associated with the aviation company reportedly matches Biffle’s listed address, according to those reports.

Per information provided to WSOC and the Associated Press, both the FAA and local authorities have confirmed that the crash resulted in fatalities. Officials have not yet released details regarding who was killed or how many people died as a result of the incident.

“The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate,” the FAA said in a statement. “The NTSB will lead the investigation and provide any updates.”

Emergency response activity was reported in the area surrounding the airport shortly after the crash. A witness near Lakewood Golf Club told WSOC that the plane appeared to be flying “way too low” prior to impact. The witness account has not been independently verified by investigators.

WSOC also reported that its news helicopter was forced to turn back while attempting to reach the crash site due to weather conditions. According to the station, visibility at the airport was limited to approximately five miles at the time, with fog present in the area.

While fog affected aerial news coverage, the station reported there is currently no official indication that weather conditions were the cause of the crash. Investigators have not identified any contributing factors, and no preliminary findings have been released.

The investigation remained active as of Thursday afternoon. Officials have not announced when additional information, including a probable cause determination, may be made public.

Greg Biffle is a longtime NASCAR driver who began his professional racing career in 1995. He is one of only three drivers in NASCAR history to win championships in both the Busch Series and the Craftsman Truck Series. Biffle was named the 2001 Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Busch Series and went on to win the series championship in 2002.

Between 2003 and 2016, Biffle recorded 19 career victories across NASCAR’s top levels. He married his wife, Cristina Grossu, in 2023. The couple share a 5-year-old son, Ryder. Biffle also has a 14-year-old daughter, Emma, from a previous marriage.

Authorities have urged the public to await official updates as the federal investigation continues.

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