Two wrongful death lawsuits filed in deadly Biffle plane crash
Two new wrongful death lawsuits have been filed in reference to the deadly December plane crash that killed former NASCAR driver Greg Bifflehis spouse Cristina, their two kids and pilots Dennis Dutton and his son Jack.
The Dutton estates filed lawsuits earlier this week, every searching for $15 million in damages.
The Dutton household alleges that Biffle, who owned the plane, was answerable for making certain the plane was correctly maintained, in keeping with the filings. The lawsuits declare that insufficient upkeep and maintenance contributed to the crash.
Dennis Dutton was flying the plane when the Cessna 500 Citation II crashed on Dec. 18 shortly after takeoff from Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. A preliminary report earlier this yr revealed that the plane’s altimeter was giving incorrect readings and that Dennis Dutton had turned management over to his son shortly earlier than the crash.
The plane erupted into a big hearth when it hit the bottom a few third of a mile from the airport’s runway.
The National Transportation Safety Board made it clear that Jack Dutton was sitting in the copilot seat. Neither Jack Dutton nor Biffle had the fitting endorsement on their pilot’s licenses to function a copilot on that plane. Aviation security guide Jeff Guzzetti, who used to research crashes for each the NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration, mentioned he believes the dearth of an skilled copilot might have been a key issue in the crash.
The NTSSB remains to be investigating the crash and has not but launched its closing report.
Biffle, 55, gained greater than 50 races throughout NASCAR’s three circuits, together with 19 on the Cup Series stage. He additionally gained the Trucks Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002.
In 2024, Biffle was honored for his humanitarian efforts after Hurricane Helene struck the US, even utilizing his private helicopter to ship help to flooded, distant western North Carolina.