THE horror crash which killed retired Nascar star Greg Biffle, his family, and three others has left friends and family utterly heartbroken, they told The U.S. Sun.
The doomed flight erupted into a fireball just minutes after takeoff from Statesville, North Carolina, on December 18 with Biffle, his wife, and two kids on board.
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Friends of Dennis and Jack Dutton have paid tribute to the pair following their tragic deathsCredit: Instagram / jack99938
The doomed flight bound for Florida from North Carolina exploded into a ball of flames killing all seven peopleCredit: Reuters
Biffle’s plane was consumed by flamesCredit: Bobby Renwick via Storyful
FAMILY TRAGEDY
Dennis Dutton – a 40-year-aviation veteran and recently retired Delta Airlines pilot – and son Jack – a rising Auburn University junior who dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps – also tragically died.
Jack had just earned his FAA Instrument Rating — a milestone he proudly shared online only weeks before the tragedy.
Friends told The U.S. Sun he had been especially “excited” about the trip.
“Dennis had been flying for 40 years,” Jonathan Donahue, a former neighbor told The U.S. Sun.
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TRAGIC PHOTO
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“I imagine it was a mechanical error because he was a great leader and such a positive person. I couldn’t imagine anything being his fault.”
According to Donahue, the trouble, which also claimed the life of Biffle’s friend Craig Wadsworth, began almost immediately after takeoff.
“All I know,” he said, “is that there was a large, loud pop, like something broke on the plane at takeoff, and he immediately had to turn around and make an emergency landing.”
Flight data backs up that chilling account.
The Cessna Citation jet climbed sharply, then abruptly turned back toward the airport.
Its speed and altitude fluctuated wildly as the pilots struggled with poor visibility in low clouds and drizzle.
Moments later, the jet clipped light poles, smashed into a tree line, and exploded less than a mile from the runway.
No distress call was ever made.
For those who knew Dennis, the cruelty of the ending is impossible to accept.
“It’s just tragic that he was with his young son as well,” Donahue continued.
“This was a second marriage, so now his wife has not only lost her husband — but their only son together.”
‘ALWAYS POSITIVE, ALWAYS CALM’
Jack, described to The U.S. Sun as magnetic, hilarious, and endlessly passionate about aviation and Auburn football, had wanted to be a pilot “since he was out of the womb.”
Planes weren’t just a career goal — they were his entire world.
Friends say he could spend hours wandering airports just to watch aircraft take off.
“Jack was incredible,” lifelong buddy Giana Farry said. “He was like my brother all my life.”
The pair met in a sixth grade coding class and never looked back.
“He had bangs that looked like barcodes,” the North Carolina based student said.
“He didn’t know how to talk to people and was obsessed with Foursquare and The Office, but he bloomed into the most magnificent person.”
Dennis, meanwhile, was known as the kind of man who never panicked — even when calling into homeowners’ meetings from Japan during overnight international flights.
“He was always so positive, enthusiastic, and supportive,” Donahue said. “Very calm. Very experienced. Flying to Asia and back was routine for him.”
After mandatory retirement at 65, Dennis had begun easing into semi-retirement, flying private jets part-time.
“I think he was just looking to ease his way into retirement,” Donahue explained. “The airlines require you to retire, but that doesn’t mean you stop flying.”
Pals of Jack Dutton told The U.S. Sun he lived for flying and had dreams of following in his father’s footstepsCredit: Instagram / jack99938
A map showing the plane’s route before it crashedCredit: Getty Images
Who was Greg Biffle
Former NASCAR driver who raced at the sport’s highest levels for more than a decade.
Two-time national-series champion: Truck Series champ (2000) and Xfinity/Busch Series champ (2002).
Rookie of the Year twice: Truck Series (1998) and Xfinity/Busch Series (2001).
19 wins in 515 starts, with a best points finish of second overall in 2005.
Moved up through Trucks and Xfinity/Busch before becoming a long-time Cup regular.
Named to NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list in 2023.
LENGTHY INVESTIGATION
Investigators believe the jet may have suffered an engine issue, but aviation experts say the plane would still have had power — and may have stalled during a steep, last-second turn while trying to line up with the runway.
The cockpit voice recorder has been recovered, but friends of the family fear final answers could take 18 months or more.
Until then, mourners are only left with only memories — and grief.
“We have over 900 homeowners in our community,” Donahue said. “Dennis was the guy who went around making sure the parks were taken care of. He didn’t like punishing people. He’d just say, ‘Hey, you might want to fix this.’ He was reasonable. He was kind.”
When Donahue learned Dennis was among the dead, he was stunned.
“I was dumbfounded,” he said. “He had just retired. He had plans.”
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
As tributes pile up for Biffle, those closest to the Dutton’s hope the father and son are not forgotten.
“I know the NASCAR driver and his family was a tragedy too,” Donahue said, “but more attention seems to be given to them than to Dennis and Jack.”
Aviation expert Michael Henderson also told The U.S. Sun more about his predictions on the crash that may have made the final moments even more tragic.
“There are two engines on this plane — it’s a very reliable jet,” Henderson said.
“It was very likely a single engine problem. He had power. He was able to climb. He could have made it back.”
Instead, Henderson claims visibility issues would have sealed their fate given the poor weather conditions at the time.
“He was using visuals rather than instruments. There was low fog and drizzle, and he was having a real hard time seeing the airport,” Henderson predicted.
“He hugged the field because he needed to see it.
“He had plenty of power,” Henderson also claimed. “He just didn’t have the visibility — and he was too low.”
PLANE OBSESSED
For Jack’s closest pals, the idea that he died doing what he loved is both comforting and unbearable.
“He’s wanted to be a pilot since he was basically born,” said Reese Peters, 20. “The only thing Jack loved more than life itself was airplanes.”
Close friends Giana Farry and Jackson Stohler told The U.S. Sun about Jack’s insatiable love of airplanes and his dreams for the futureCredit: Family Handout
Jack, seen here wearing sunglasses, was loved by his close circle of friendsCredit: Family Handout
Jack was apparently so obsessed with planes that he couldn’t resist pointing to the sky whenever one passed overhead.
“Anytime an airplane flew over us, he’d be like, ‘Guys — look, it’s an airplane,’” added another pal, Jackson Stohler .
“He would tag people in Instagram posts who weren’t even in the photo — just because there was a plane.”
Jack’s obsession went beyond flying — he loved airports themselves.
“He’d clean himself for two hours just riding escalators at the airport,” Giana recalled fondly. “He didn’t care if he was early. He was just happy to be there.”
Even dates revolved around those wonderful flying machines.
Dennis and Jack deserve to be remembered.
Family friend Jonathan Donahue
“His idea of a romantic outing was going to the airport,” she joked.
Jack wasn’t just known for his love of flying — he was known for bringing people together.
“He had this incredible sense of humor,” continued Reese. “Everything came out of left field. You never knew how he thought it up.”
At Auburn University, where Jack was a junior in the professional flight program, he was famous for his school spirit.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who loved Auburn more than Jack,” Giana said. “He was rallying entire sections of the stadium — strangers wanted him to sit with them because of his energy.”
She said she’s been with the family for the last few days and although the sadness is painfully acute, the love for the pair has been overwhelmingly evident.
Giana revealed “people are flying across the world just to be here.”
“It still feels like a prank,” said Jackson. “Like he’s going to pop out and say ‘Surprise.’ That’s something he’d do.”
Retired NASCAR star Greg Biffle, wife Cristina Grossu Biffle and children Emma and Jack were all killedCredit: Insatagram/cristinagbiffle
An aviation expert told The U.S. Sun poor visibility was one reason for the fatal incidentCredit: Reuters