A brief history of the deadliest plane crashes in the Charlotte area

By Evan Moore

Updated December 19, 2025 10:58 AM

Greg Biffle, 6 others killed in NC plane crash

A plane crashed early Thursday at Statesville Regional Airport, killing seven people, including NASCAR star Greg Biffle, his wife and two children, and three other people. Biffle, who flew aircraft in WNC to help victims of Hurricane Helene, owned the Cessna that crashed mid-morning north of Charlotte.

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The latest deadly plane crash in the Charlotte region came Thursday, when a business jet owned by NASCAR driver Greg Biffle went down while attempting to land at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of the city.

Officials have confirmed seven fatalities, including former NASCAR star Greg Biffle and his family, and the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause.

The aircraft was identified as a Cessna C550, according to WSOC. Authorities said weather conditions at the time included heavy rain, low cloud ceilings and reduced visibility. The city-owned airport serves corporate aviation and is frequently used by NASCAR teams.

The crash adds to a relatively short history of fatal aviation accidents in the Charlotte area.

Here’s a look at some of the deadliest plane crashes in the city’s history.

Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 – Sept. 11, 1974

On Sept. 11, 1974, Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 crashed during its approach to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, killing 72 of the 82 people on board after the jet came down more than three miles short of the runway in dense fog, The Charlotte Observer reported.

Eastern Airlines Flight 212 crashed in Charlotte on Sept. 11, 1974, killing 72 people. It remains the deadliest crash in Charlotte history. Charlotte Observer Staff photo

USAir Flight 1016 – July 2, 1994

A Douglas DC-9 on a flight from Columbia, S.C., encountered severe thunderstorms and a windshear hazard while trying to land at Charlotte Douglas, according to aircraft accident report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The aircraft crashed into trees and a residence near the airport, resulting in 37 fatalities out of 57 onboard.

Eastern Air Lines Flight 512 – Nov. 30, 1962

Eastern Air Lines Flight 512 was a scheduled passenger flight from Charlotte Municipal Airport to New York’s Idlewild Airport that crashed on November 30, 1962, when the Douglas DC‑7B stalled and struck the ground during a missed approach in dense fog, killing 25 of the 51 people aboard. An investigation found that pilot errors during the aborted landing prevented the plane from gaining altitude, leading to the fatal accident.

Air Midwest Flight 5481 – Jan. 8, 2003

Shortly after takeoff from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a Beechcraft 1900D stalled and crashed into a hangar, killing all 21 passengers and crew aboard, according to the NTSB’s accident report.

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This story was originally published December 18, 2025 at 3:20 PM with the headline "A brief history of the deadliest plane crashes in the Charlotte area."

Evan Moore

The Charlotte Observer

Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.