New details in Greg Biffle plane crash

An explanation for the quick return to the Statesville (N.C.) Regional Airport by the Cessna Citation 500 carrying NASCAR champion Greg Biffle, his family, and three other people has yet to be determined, but that is the focus of the investigation, a National Transportation Safety Board spokesman said.

NTSB board member Michael Graham said the business jet was in the proper position for landing, stable, and its landing lights were on, but it was below the runway that’s on a hill, making it too low to land safely. The aircraft’s low elevation caused it to hit trees and runway approach lighting systems before crashing short of the runway. The aircraft exploded in flames as it slid across the ground and onto the runway about 10 minutes after taking off from the airport.

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NTSB Media Briefing 2 – Cessna 550 crash, Statesville, North Carolina.

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“I can confirm that the NTSB is aware of one brief text from a passenger on board the aircraft to a family member that read, and I quote, ‘Emergency landing.’” Graham said. “We are not aware of any other communications from passengers on board the aircraft to those on the ground.”

Graham declined to identify the family member out of respect for those who lost their loved ones in the horrific crash.

People Magazine has reported that Cristina Biffle, Greg’s wife, texted her mother, Cathy Grossu, shortly before the crash saying, “We’re in trouble.”

Seven people died in the fiery crash: Biffle, his wife Cristina, his children Emma and Ryder, Craig Wadsworth, and Dennis and Jack Dutton.

Graham said they still don’t know who was piloting the plane. Three people on the plane, including Biffle, possessed a pilot’s license. He also said weather conditions at the time didn’t require an instrument landing.

In Saturday’s final briefing in North Carolina, Graham said the 16-person team was recovering “perishable evidence” and the “analysis portion” would begin later. Graham said the systems crew had documented several items, including the debris field and flight controls. He said they would attempt to determine the aircraft’s weight balance in regard to how it was loaded.

NTSB

Information from the plane’s cockpit voice recorder was being retrieved Saturday at the NTSB in Washington, DC.

NTSB investigators also have recovered avionics equipment, including the ground proximity warning system, and the caution and warning panel for the instrument panel. The plane’s electronic systems are being sent to a laboratory in Washington, DC, to determine if the data on them can be retrieved. The maintenance logs for the plane also have been obtained.

Graham said removal of the plane’s wreckage would begin Saturday, and he anticipated releasing the scene to local authorities in one to two days.

The NTSB is expected to release its preliminary report within 30 days; however, its final report won’t be available for 12 to 18 months.