CLAIMS TARGET DECEASED PILOT'S ESTATE AMID INVESTIGATION INTO LICENSING AND MAINTENANCE
Two wrongful death lawsuits have surfaced, lodged against the estate of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, following the December plane crash that claimed the lives of seven individuals, including Biffle, his family, and the aircraft's pilots. The legal actions, filed by the estates of pilots Dennis and Jack Dutton, zero in on allegations of improper maintenance and operational failures concerning the Cessna 500 Citation II jet. Central to the suits are claims that Biffle, as the aircraft's owner, bore responsibility for ensuring its airworthiness and crew qualifications.
The filings point to a critical detail regarding the flight crew: neither Jack Dutton, the younger pilot, nor Greg Biffle possessed the required endorsements on their pilot's licenses to operate as a copilot on the aircraft. The Dutton family's legal argument centers on Biffle's alleged failure to guarantee the plane's proper upkeep. This legal push comes as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues its probe into the incident, with a preliminary report indicating that the plane's altimeter was providing inaccurate readings and that Dennis Dutton had transferred control to his son shortly before the crash.
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The lawsuits collectively present 11 claims. These include the assertion that Biffle neglected to ensure the plane was operated with an adequate crew, a requirement for that specific aircraft which mandates two licensed pilots. The suits also allege that Biffle failed to conduct sufficient safety checks and to maintain the plane in a condition fit for flight. Despite the preliminary NTSB findings that issues were seemingly resolved before landing, the aircraft ultimately crashed short of the runway.
The tragic incident on December 18 resulted in the deaths of Greg Biffle, 55, his wife Cristina, 35, their son Ryder, 5, and daughter Emma, 14. Also lost in the crash were pilot Dennis Dutton, 67, his son Jack, 20, and family friend Craig Wadsworth, 62. Dennis Dutton is believed to have been at the controls during the final moments, with Jack occupying the copilot's seat despite his lack of qualifications for that role.
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A previously filed lawsuit was initiated on behalf of Biffle's daughter, Emma Biffle. The NTSB's final report on the crash is not expected for at least another year. The flight was attempting to land in Statesville, North Carolina, when the crash occurred.
