Wrongful Death Suits Follow Deadly Statesville Crash

Wrongful Death Suits Follow Statesville CrashNTSB

Two wrongful death suits have been filed by the estates of three people who died in the December plane crash at the Statesville, North Carolina, airport that killed NASCAR champion Greg Biffle, his two children, his wife Cristina, Dennis Dutton, his son Jack Dutton and Craig Wadsworth.

The Dutton estate has filed a $15 million suit against Biffle’s estate, according to court documents. It claims that Biffle, who owned the Cessna 550, was responsible for maintenance, operation, and safety as it pertained to the aircraft.

The estate of Emma Biffle has filed a $10 million wrongful death suit against Dennis Dutton’s estate. Emma Biffle was Greg Biffle’s daughter from a previous marriage.

The National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report states that Dennis Dutton was flying the twin-engine jet when it took off about 10:06 a.m. on the morning of December 18 from the Statesville Airport. His young adult son Jack Dutton was in the cockpit’s right seat and Biffle was seated near the cockpit in the aircraft’s cabin area.

A Cessna 550 similar to the jet in the Biffle crash.NurPhoto - Getty Images

At one point, the report states the elder Dutton turned the controls over to his son, who wasn’t qualified to fly the jet. However, Dennis Dutton resumed control of the plane before it crashed at 10:15 a.m.

During the brief flight, the report stated that the men noted problems with a thrust reverser indicator light, a gauge, a turbine temperature indicator, an altitude indicator and some left-side instruments.

The NTSB has not released its final report on the crash.