NTSB recovers cockpit voice recorder in Biffle crash investigation

Investigators have recovered the black box from the wreckage of the plane crash that killed NASCAR driver Greg Biffle along with his family and three others in North Carolina on Thursday. 

Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma and son Ryder were killed along with Dennis and Jack Dutton and Craig Wadsworth when a Cessna Citation 550 registered to Biffle’s company crashed at Statesville Regional Airport shortly after takeoff.

The National Transportation Safety Board has already commenced an investigation into the cause of the crash.

“At approximately 10:15 a.m. EST, a Cessna Citation 550 airplane, registration number N257BW, crashed while attempting to land on Runway 28 at Statesville Regional Airport,” said NTSB board member Michael Graham. “There were seven souls on board the airplane; unfortunately, there were no survivors.”

While the investigation is expected to take 12-18 months, investigator in charge, Dan Baker, said his team established a basic outline of the plane’s final flight. 

“Preliminary ADSB (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) data showed the airplane made an initial left turn to the west, followed by another left turn back to the east, back towards the airport approximately five minutes after takeoff,” he said. 

“The airplane then flew a left base turn to Runway 28. The initial point of impact was a runway light stanchion located about 1,800 feet from the runway threshold. The airplane subsequently impacted trees, two other runway light stanchions and the airport perimeter fence short of the runway threshold before coming to rest near the runway threshold.

“Post-impact fire consumed the majority of the fuselage and the inboard wing sections. All four corners of the airplane and flight control surfaces have been identified in the wreckage and the debris field. Both engines were present with the main wreckage.”

According to Graham, the black box recovered is the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder. The plane was not equipped with a flight data recorder, and was not required to be equipped with either system. The CVR is currently en route to the NTSB’s Washington DC facility for analysis. 

The debris field is still yet to be fully mapped due to poor weather in the region on Friday, preventing investigators from launching drones. 

Few other details about the crash can yet be verified, including reports that one of the passengers sent a text message indicating a problem before the crash. Investigators have requested anyone with photos or video of the accident, debris, or who were witness to the crash to come forward.