Cause of the private plane crash that killed seven—triggered by a simple action almost everyone does.

Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others are dead after a plane crashed in Statesville, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Seven people were on the plane at the time of the crash, including Greg Biffle. Troopers said that all seven occupants died in the crash.

Highway Patrol said the crash was reported at 10:15 a.m. Thursday at the Statesville Regional Airport.

A Cessna C550, registered to a company run by Biffle, departed the runway and circled back to land when the crash happened.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are investigating. Highway Patrol responded to assist and notify families.

The post-crash fire has prevented authorities from releasing a definitive list of the occupants.

Chris Knox with NC State Highway Patrol said it is believed to be Greg Biffle, 55, and his immediate family on board.

The families of the victims released a joint statement confirming that Biffle, his wife Christina, their son Ryder, and Greg’s daughter Emma, were among the victims.

The statement also identified the other victims as Biffle’s assistant Craig Wadsworth, Dennis Dutton and his son Jack Dutton.

Gregory Jack Biffle, also known as “The Biff,” was born on Dec. 23, 1969, in Vancouver, Washington, and was raised in Camas. He led a successful career in NASCAR, winning the championships of the 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and 2002 NASCAR Xfinity Series. He achieved 19 wins in 515 starts and was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers.

Information on the plane/flight from our National Investigative Unit:

• FAA records show the plane that crashed was a Cessna 550 Citation – a small jet that is popular as a business jet. This Citation was built in 1981 and last certified for flight in March of this year.
• Flight plans show the plane was bound for Sarasota and had three additional flights planned today:
• Departing Sarasota/Bradenton in FL at 2:19pm and landing an hour later at Treasure Cay
• Then a flight from Treasure Cay to Fort Lauderdale Executive with a scheduled arrival of 4:48pm
• Then a flight from Fort Lauderdale back to Statesville Regional in NC with a planned arrival of 8:22pm.
• Flight tracking data reviewed by the National Investigative Unit shows the jet departed Statesville Regional (SVH) at approximately 10:06 am.
• The jet reached it’s highest altitude – approximately 2000′ – less than 2 minutes after departure and at about a mile from the airport, and then it began to descend.
• It continued descending and at approximately 11 miles from the airport, the plane turned back and made an attempt to fly directly back to the airport.
• The final recorded data point, which was 9 minutes after takeoff, shows the plane less than a half-mile from the airport in-line with the runway and near the Lakewood Golf Club at about 800′ altitude and approximately 95 knots (109mph)

“The Biffles flew hundreds of rescue missions in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene,” U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina wrote on social media. “The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica. That’s who the Biffles were.”

Update at 2:30 from Associated Press:

A business jet with six people crashed at a regional airport in North Carolina, erupting in a large fire and killing multiple people. Flight records show the plane was registered to a company run by retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. Authorities say the Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte.

Update at 2:20 p.m. from Associated Press:

A business jet with six people aboard crashed Thursday at a regional airport in North Carolina used by NASCAR teams and Fortune 500 companies, erupting in a large fire and killing multiple people, authorities said.

“I can confirm there were fatalities,” Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said.

There were six people on the Cessna C550 that crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Charlotte, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Golfers playing next to the airport were shocked as they witnessed the disaster, even dropping to the ground at the Lakewood Golf Club while the plane was overhead. The ninth hole was covered with debris.

“We were like, ‘Oh my gosh! That’s way too low,’” said Joshua Green of Mooresville. “It was scary.”

The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA were investigating. AccuWeather says there was some drizzle and clouds at the time of the crash.

The plane took off from the airport shortly after 10 a.m. but then returned and was attempting to land there, according to tracking data posted by FlightAware.com.

The plane had planned to fly later from Sarasota, Florida, to Treasure Cay International Airport in the Bahamas before returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and then to Statesville by evening, data showed.

Update at 12:30 p.m. by CNN:

The crash happened shortly after 10:15 a.m., Iredell County Chief Deputy Bill Hamby told CNN. The exact number of fatalities is not known at this point, he added.

“A Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina around 10:20 a.m. local time on Thursday, Dec. 18. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation and provide any updates,” the Federal Aviation Administration told CNN.

(Video below: More video from the scene)

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CNN has reached out to the National Transportation Safety Board.

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.

(Video below: Update from about 12:30 p.m. from the airport)

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Preliminary flight tracking data shows a Cessna Citation 550 left Statesville Regional Airport around 10 a.m. 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.

(Video below: Witness video)

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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.

“The Statesville Regional Airport provides corporate aviation facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams,” according to the city website.

Update at 11:56 a.m. by CNN:

People are dead after a small private jet crashed shortly after takeoff in Statesville, North Carolina, according to a local sheriff’s office official.

(Live coverage above when available)

The incident took place shortly after 10:15 a.m., Iredell County Chief Deputy Bill Hamby told CNN.

The exact number of fatalities is not know at this point, he added.

“A Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina around 10:20 a.m. local time on Thursday, Dec. 18. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation and provide any updates,” the Federal Aviation Administration told CNN.

CNN has reached out to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Statesville is 40 miles north of Charlotte.

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Update at 11:55 a.m. from Associated Press

Authorities say a business jet crashed while landing at a regional airport in Statesville, North Carolina, erupting in a large fire. The Federal Aviation Administration said a Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport around 10:20 a.m. Thursday. The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are investigating.

Update at 11:45 a.m. from Associated Press

Authorities say a plane crashed while landing at a regional airport in North Carolina, erupting in a large fire.

Original story:

Crews are responding to a plane crash at a North Carolina airport.

The Statesville Regional Airport says there was an “incident” while a plane was landing about 10:15 a.m. Thursday.

The airport said the Federal Aviation Administration is on the way.

We will continue to update this story.