In the span of minutes, a routine corporate flight from Statesville Regional Airport became a tragedy that now hangs over an entire community. The Cessna Citation II, tied to GB Aviation Leasing and associated with retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle’s Pace Offroad, departed at 10:06 a.m., briefly turned toward Catawba County, then reversed course toward home. It never safely returned.
The jet came down just short of the runway near 17th Tee Lane and East Aviation Drive. Federal officials confirmed six people were aboard; local authorities acknowledged multiple deaths but have not said whether anyone survived. The airport was shut down “until further notice” as investigators from the FAA and NTSB arrived, beginning an inquiry that may take years to fully resolve. Families now wait for the most dreaded phone calls, while a town that prides itself on business, racing, and resilience is left staring at a scarred runway and unanswered questions.read more
