![\"Greg](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/gettyimages-1371024467.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n Digital creator and motorsports streamer Garrett Mitchell, who goes by the name \u201cCleetus McFarland\u201d on his channel, said in a post that Biffle, his wife and two children were flying to see him and his family when the crash occurred.\n <\/p>\n
\n Biffle and Mitchell were friends who conducted rescue missions after Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina and sometimes posted videos together. Biffle was a licensed pilot. It is not yet clear who was flying the aircraft.\n <\/p>\n
\n Biffle is considered one of NASCAR\u2019s 75 greatest drivers with 19 wins, according to a news release from the racing series.\n <\/p>\n
\n His longtime racing team, RFK Racing, said they were \u201cdevastated\u201d by the loss of a \u201ccherished member of our racing family.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n NASCAR also said it\u2019s devastated over the news of Biffle\u2019s death, saying in a statement he \u201cwas more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many. His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n A witness who works at the airport told CNN she saw the plane on fire after the crash.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cMy desk faces where it happened. I was just sitting here, and then I heard a loud boom, and our hangar shook a little. I got up to look and that\u2019s when I saw the flames and fire everywhere,\u201d said Victoria, who works for an aviation company and asked to be identified only by her first name due to privacy concerns.\n <\/p>\n
\n The NTSB conducted witness interviews as part of its investigation Saturday, board member Michael Graham said at a Saturday morning news conference. Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder from the plane and obtained its maintenance logs.\n <\/p>\n
\n Graham said the agency was still working to confirm who was piloting the plane when it crashed.\n <\/p>\n
\n The NTSB has \u201ca lot of really good information, and we\u2019re fairly confident with at least the left seat occupant,\u201d he said.\n <\/p>\n
\n But \u201cwe need to verify that, right, we need to be accurate in what we do,\u201d he added. Graham said that one passenger on board sent a text message to a family member saying, \u201cEmergency landing.\u201d He didn\u2019t identify which passenger sent the text.\n <\/p>\n
\n Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte, is an uncontrolled airport with no control tower. Pilots are required to self-report their position on and near the airport using a common radio frequency.\n <\/p>\n
\n The airport remains closed, according to the airport manager.\n <\/p>\n
\n Preliminary flight tracking data shows a Cessna Citation 550 left Statesville Regional Airport around 10 a.m. Thursday from runway 10, traveled about five miles, then made a near-immediate left turn back toward the airport. The plane did not climb higher than 2,000 feet, according to FlightAware.\n <\/p>\n
\n Low clouds, light rain, and visibility of less than three miles were reported about 80 minutes after the crash, according to an automated weather station at the airport. It is not clear if these conditions were present when the plane crashed.\n <\/p>\n