More legal drama over the estate of Greg Biffle.
The retired NASCAR driver was among 7 people killed in a deadly plane crash last December in North Carolina, which also claimed the life of his wife Cristina Grossu, his children Emma and Ryder, longtime NASCAR crew member Craig Wadsworth, and pilot Dennis Dutton and his son Jack Dutton.
Earlier this year, the NTSB released their preliminary report on the crash and shed more light on the final moments of the ill-fated flight.
The private Cessna Citation II owned by Biffle’s company crashed on December 18, 2025 just minutes after taking off from the Statesville Regional Airport. The NTSB confirmed that Dennis Dutton was the pilot of the aircraft, and that his son Jack was in the co-pilot seat. However, despite the fact that both Jack Dutton and Biffle were pilots themselves, neither possessed the proper rating to serve as co-pilot in the aircraft.
While taxiing on the runway, the cockpit voice recorder captured conversation between the three about a thrust reverser light that wasn’t working, but it seems they all agreed that the thrust reverser (which slows down a plane when landing) was operating properly.
During takeoff, Biffle commented that the left engine was producing more power than the right, and that it may be an issue with a gauge, but Dutton continued with the takeoff. While climbing, Biffle also pointed out a difference in temperatures between the left and right engines.
Soon thereafter, Dennis Dutton remarked that his altitude indicator wasn’t functioning properly, and that other gauges on the left side of the cockpit may not be working either. He then transferred control of the plane to his son, who was seated beside him but not rated to fly this particular aircraft.
At some point, the NTSB determined that Dennis took back control of the plane, and the pilots began configuring the plane for landing. Around this time, Jack Dutton made an announcement on the radio that the plane was “having some issues.”
It seems they continued to try to troubleshoot, with Biffle suggesting a problem with the alternator, though the NTSB notes that the model of plane isn’t equipped with an alternator. (Some pilots have suggested that he meant the generator, and that turning the generator back on solved the issues with the gauges and radio communication – but by that point they were already preparing for landing.
The plane continued to turn back towards the airport, with both Jack and Dennis Dutton confirming that they could see the runway.
From there, the plane continued to lose altitude and speed until audio and GPS data ended at 10:15 AM, less than 10 minutes after takeoff.
The full NTSB report isn’t expected to be released until late 2026, so we still don’t know exactly what happened or what caused the accident.
This week though, the estates of both Dennis Dutton and his son, Jack Dutton, filed wrongful death lawsuits against the estate of Greg Biffle.
The complaints, which have been reviewed by Whiskey Riff and each seek $15 million in damages, allege that as the owner of the plane Biffle was responsible for maintenance and ensuring that it was safe to fly. According to the complaint, the Dutton estates allege that the NASCAR driver was negligent in maintaining the aircraft, and that inadequate maintenance contributed to the failure of the gauges and ultimately, the crash.
Interestingly, the lawsuit also claims that Biffle breached his duty of care by “failing to use reasonable care in entrusting the Aircraft, and in hiring/supervising … operating crew for the Aircraft.” So…he was negligent because he let Dutton and his son fly the plane, knowing they weren’t experienced enough? Am I reading that right?
Biffle’s estate is being managed by his niece, Jordyn Carpenter Biffle. The estate of Biffle’s daughter, Emma Biffle, has also filed notices of wrongful death claims against the estates of Biffle and Dennis Dutton, though the claim hasn’t been formally filed.
Of course all this comes amid an investigation surrounding a fraud scheme in which authorities allege someone close to Greg Biffle accessed his bank accounts shortly after his death and stole “hundreds of thousands” of dollars, as well as a burglary at his Mooresville, North Carolina home in which thieves allegedly stole $30,000.
What a terrible thing for everybody involved to have to deal with.
