Accidents
Citation II Accident at Statesville Airport Kills Six
Aircraft returned shortly after takeoff before crash, FAA and NTSB investigating
Images of the scene from social media
Images of the scene posted to X this morning © https://x.com/aviationbrk/status/2001691598560604281?s=20

A Cessna Citation II crashed while landing this morning at Statesville Regional Airport (KSVH) in North Carolina, killing all six onboard, according to local authorities and the FAA. Emergency responders found the airplane—N257BW and registered to GB Leasing, a holding company owned by Nascar driver Greg Biffle—fully engulfed in flames just off the side of Runway 10/28.

According to FlightRadar 24 data, the twinjet took off at 10:07 a.m. ET headed for Florida’s Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport (KSRQ). However, the pilot reportedly encountered engine issues shortly after takeoff and returned to land at KSVH about 10 minutes later, when the crash occurred.