Greg Biffle Survived Plane 'Mechanical Failure' 14 Years Before Dying in Crash

Greg Biffle was involved in a close call more than a decade before his death.

The NASCAR champ, who died in a plane crash Thursday along with his wife, their two children and three others in North Carolina, was involved in a minor accident in March 2011 at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Ky., according to the New Haven Register and Kentucky.com.

Biffle and two pilots were not injured when the plane's landing gear malfunctioned, causing it to "partially collapse" during arrival, according to the outlets.

Biffle spoke out on social media after the crash, writing, "My pilots are purely heroes for maintaining control of the aircraft keeping on the runway, if not it wouldn't have been the same outcome."

In a later interview for Nascar Now on ESPN2, Biffle called the incident a "small plane accident" and described the frightening moments. He recalled noticing that the left wing of the plane was rising during the flight and saw the right wing drag on the runway, causing it to spark.

A spokesperson for the airport at the time told the NH Register that the airport did not classify the incident as a crash at the time, instead calling it a "mechanical failure."

On Thursday morning, Biffle, 55, was traveling with his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, 14, and son Ryder, 5, aboard a Cessna C550 that crashed while attempting to land in foggy weather at Statesville Regional Airport at around 10:15 a.m., according to the Associated Press. 

Rep. Richard Hudson, a family friend, confirmed it was Biffle and his family on board on Thursday after initial reports his plane had crashed. “I am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is with all who loved them,” Hudson wrote on X.

“They were friends who lived their lives focused on helping others. Greg was a great NASCAR champion who thrilled millions of fans. But he was an extraordinary person as well, and will be remembered for his service to others as much as for his fearlessness on the track," he continued.

Hudson added, "The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica. That’s who the Biffles were."