THE family of two victims in the devastating plane crash that killed Nascar legend Greg Biffle is suing his estate for $30 million after accusing him of being responsible for the tragedy.
Dennis Dutton and his son Jack both died on December 18 after Biffle’s Cessna C550 private plane burst into flames on impact while attempting to land shortly following takeoff at Statesville Regional Airport.
Seven people, including race star Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their children Emma and Ryder, died in the incident.
But fresh from the shock revelations that authorities are investigating claims that members of Biffle’s “inner circle” plotted to raid his finances, comes a new twist.
According to two wrongful death filings, the Duttons want substantial damages of $15 million each for the deaths of Dennis and Jack.
They claim responsibility for the horrific incident ultimately lies with Biffle, whose company GB Aviation Leasing LLC owned the plane, arguing he was responsible for ensuring its safety and proper operation.
Central to the lawsuits are claims that the aircraft was not adequately maintained and that key safety obligations were neglected.
A National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report released in January confirmed that Dennis, a retired airline pilot, was flying the plane alongside his son.
The Duttons’ lawsuits claim that the failures contributed to unsafe flying conditions and caused the fatal crash.
They also argue that the tragedy could have been prevented if proper procedures and oversight had been followed.
Biffle’s first wife, Nicole, with whom they shared 14-year-old Emma, is also suing for wrongful death and is demanding $10 million.
This latest development is another twist in a story that has stunned the Nascar community.
Biffle’s house was ransacked the month after the crash, with $30,000 in cash, racing memorabilia, and two Glock handguns taken.
But in a stunning turn of events, a search warrant application filed by an Iredell County sheriff’s detective indicates that investigators suspect a warped plan was hatched and carried out following the tragedy.
The warrant claims multiple instances of fraud were discovered across bank and financial accounts belonging to Biffle and his wife, pointing to a coordinated effort spanning several states that resulted in the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“It is the belief of this affiant that a plan has been in place by friends of Gregory Biffle and strategically executed after the death of the Biffle family,” an Iredell County sheriff’s detective wrote in a search warrant application that was filed in court on March 10, per The Charlotte Observer.
Reports indicate the pilot may have encountered issues early in the flight, prompting an emergency situation.
But despite efforts to regain control, the plane ultimately went down, sending shockwaves through both the aviation and racing communities.
“Dennis had about four decades of experience in the cockpit,” former neighbor Jonathan Donahue told The U.S. Sun.
