🚨 BREAKING: Shocking new twist in Greg Biffle plane crash investigation…

Just days after the tragedy that claimed the NASCAR legend, his wife, and two young children, NTSB engineers poring over the black box data have uncovered something baffling: Illogical altitude drops and wildly inconsistent speeds in the final seconds before impact.

The plane was flying erratically – too low, too slow on approach – data that simply “doesn’t add up” for a routine emergency return.

Insiders say experts are now pointing fingers at possible critical human error behind the controls… Was the wrong pilot flying? Did panic set in during the emergency?

No mayday call. A frantic “We’re in trouble” text from inside the cabin. And now this disturbing flight data.

The NASCAR world is reeling. What really happened in those fatal minutes?

Full explosive details below 👇 What do YOU think caused this heartbreak?

The investigation into the devastating plane crash that killed retired NASCAR champion Greg Biffle, his family, and three others took a significant turn this week as federal officials revealed preliminary findings from recovered flight data, highlighting irregular altitude and speed readings in the aircraft’s final moments.

Sources familiar with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) analysis described portions of the data as “illogical,” with the Cessna Citation 550 exhibiting abrupt fluctuations that engineers believe point toward human factors playing a key role in the December 18 tragedy.

The crash claimed the lives of seven people: Biffle, 55; his wife, Cristina Grossu Biffle; their 5-year-old son, Ryder; Biffle’s 14-year-old daughter, Emma (from a previous marriage); longtime associate Craig Wadsworth; and father-son duo Dennis Dutton and Jack Dutton.

The group had departed Statesville Regional Airport around 10:05 a.m. en route to Florida, but the jet turned back just minutes into the flight, attempting an emergency return before slamming into light poles, trees, and a fence short of the runway. The aircraft erupted in flames upon impact around 10:15 a.m., leaving a debris field scattered across wooded terrain near the airport.

NTSB investigators, in updates provided through briefings and statements as of December 26, 2025, have recovered critical components, including the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) – often referred to as the “black box” – though the 1981-model Cessna was not equipped with a separate flight data recorder. Additional avionics, such as the ground proximity warning system and instrument panel components, have been sent to NTSB labs in Washington, D.C., for detailed readout.

While full transcription and analysis are ongoing, early reviews of available telemetry from radar tracks and onboard systems show the plane’s path involved sharp turns back toward the airport, with altitude and airspeed varying dramatically. One final data point placed the jet at approximately 800 feet and 95 knots (about 109 mph) – figures experts say are unusually low and slow for a safe approach in the Cessna 550, especially under the reported weather conditions of heavy drizzle and low ceilings.

Aviation analysts consulted by media outlets have noted these readings suggest the aircraft may have been struggling to maintain stable flight, possibly due to configuration issues or control inputs inconsistent with standard procedures.

“Speed and altitude fluctuated significantly during the brief flight,” former NTSB investigator Jeff Guzzetti told reporters earlier in the probe. “The path was consistent with a crew experiencing an issue and needing to return quickly – but ending up too low to recover.”

Adding to the intrigue, no distress call or “mayday” was issued from the cockpit, per air traffic control records. However, reports emerged of a passenger – believed to be Cristina Biffle – sending desperate texts, including one saying “We’re in trouble” to a relative shortly before the crash.

The question of who was at the controls has become central. FAA records indicate three licensed pilots were aboard: Greg Biffle, holding multi-engine ratings; Dennis Dutton, an experienced airline transport pilot; and Jack Dutton, recently certified for single-engine aircraft.

Yet, experts like aviation safety consultant John Cox have highlighted a potential crew qualification gap. “There is nobody else that has a second-in-command type rating in the airplane,” Cox noted. “So there’s a question on the crew.”

Biffle, while an avid pilot who owned the jet through his GB Aviation Leasing company, was not fully type-rated for the specific Cessna 550 model as pilot-in-command for certain operations, according to some analyses of public records. This has fueled speculation about whether an unqualified or improperly configured pilot crew contributed to the erratic final seconds.

The NTSB has stressed that the investigation remains in its early phases, with a preliminary report expected within 30 days and a full probable cause determination potentially taking 12 to 18 months. Teams continue examining maintenance logs – the plane was last airworthiness-certified in March 2025 – engine performance (Pratt & Whitney units), weather impacts, and witness accounts.

Poor visibility from drizzle and low clouds on the morning of the crash could have compounded any onboard issues, investigators say. The airport, popular among NASCAR figures due to its proximity to Charlotte’s racing hub, was operating normally but under marginal conditions.

The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the motorsports community. Biffle, a Vancouver, Washington native, rose to prominence in the late 1990s, capturing the 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title and the 2002 Busch Series championship before notching 19 Cup Series wins with Roush Fenway Racing. His No. 16 Ford became iconic, and he was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023.

In recent years, Biffle transitioned to part-time racing and philanthropy, notably using his helicopter for relief flights delivering supplies to remote areas ravaged by Hurricane Helene in 2024. Tributes poured in from peers like Jeff Gordon, who called the news “devastating,” and Mark Martin, who reflected on the perils of aviation in racing circles.

NASCAR issued a statement mourning Biffle as “more than a champion driver… a beloved member of the community.” North Carolina Governor Josh Stein praised his humanitarian efforts, saying the loss was “heartbreaking.”

Families of the victims released a joint statement expressing profound grief: “This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words. Greg and Cristina were devoted parents and active philanthropists.”

As the NTSB digs deeper into the anomalous data, questions linger about whether mechanical failure, environmental factors, or – as emerging analysis suggests – human error in the cockpit sealed the fate of those aboard.

The probe also involves the FAA, aircraft manufacturer Textron Aviation, and engine maker Pratt & Whitney Canada. Investigators have appealed for any videos or photos from witnesses to clarify the jet’s low approach.

Statesville Regional Airport reopened earlier this week after debris clearance, but the emotional scar remains deep in the tight-knit racing enclave of Mooresville and beyond.

For now, the focus remains on piecing together the puzzle of those final erratic seconds – a effort that could provide closure to grieving families and prevent future tragedies in general aviation.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the NTSB.