Lawsuits Filed After Plane Crash That Killed NASCAR Legend and 6 Others Nearly five months after a plane crash claimed the lives of seven people, including a prominent NASCAR figure, two lawsuits have been filed in connection to the tragedy. The incident, which occurred on December 18 in North Carolina, has prompted legal action against the owner of the aircraft, with claims seeking $15 million in damages. The lawsuits, filed in Iredell County Superior Court, are being pursued on behalf of the Dutton estate, according to court documents obtained by ESPN and local station WBTV. The crash involved a Cessna C550 jet that crashed near the Statesville Regional Airport, approximately 45 miles north of Charlotte. Among the victims were Greg Biffle, a former race car driver, his wife Cristina Biffle, their 5-year-old son Ryder, and Biffle’s daughter Emma, 14. Also killed were Dennis Rollin Dutton, his son Jack Dutton, and Dutton’s employee and friend Craig Wadsworth. Biffle, who owned the aircraft, was reportedly responsible for its maintenance, operation, and safety, according to the lawsuits. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is still investigating the official cause of the crash, which occurred in severe weather conditions. Flight tracking data from FlightAware indicates the plane was en route to Florida but attempted to return to the regional airport shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, registered to a company linked to Biffle, was piloted by Dutton, an experienced pilot, as per an autopsy report obtained by USA TODAY. Jack Dutton, who was in the co-pilot seat, was assisting during the flight but was not qualified to operate the plane. The crash took place around 10:15 a.m. ET as the pilot attempted to land at the airport.#nascar #greg_biffle #crisina_biffle #craig_wadsworth #dutton
