Pilot, son's estates sue Biffle estate for $30M over crash

The estates of a pilot and his son killed alongside former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family in a December plane crash have filed wrongful death lawsuits seeking a combined $30 million from Biffle's estate. The claims, filed April 17 in Iredell County Superior Court in North Carolina, allege that Biffle, as the aircraft owner, failed to properly maintain the Cessna 500 Citation II jet.

The crash occurred on December 18 at Statesville Regional Airport, shortly after takeoff. The plane, which became uncontrollable, crashed short of the runway about a third of a mile from the threshold and erupted into flames. Seven people died: Biffle, his wife Cristina, their children Emma, 14, and Ryder, 5; pilot Dennis Dutton; Dutton's son Jack; and Craig Wadsworth, who worked for Biffle.

According to the lawsuits from the estates of Dennis and Jack Dutton, each seeking $15 million, Biffle neglected adequate safety checks, repairs, inspections and crew requirements. The plane had been operated in a defective condition, the filings state. In a related claim filed in February, Biffle's ex-wife, Nicole, sought at least $10 million from Dennis Dutton's estate on behalf of Emma's estate.