Nicole Biffle, the ex-wife of former NASCAR star Greg Biffle, has filed a lawsuit against his estate and the pilot involved in the fatal plane crash that killed the racing legend in January 2025. The suit, filed in a North Carolina court, alleges wrongful death and negligence, adding another layer of legal fallout to a tragedy that has already drawn multiple claims against the Biffle estate.
Greg Biffle, 55, died on January 26, 2025, when a single-engine Pilatus PC-12 crashed shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip near his home in Mooresville, North Carolina. The crash also killed two other passengers: father and son Ryan and Ryder Norris. The pilot, Shaun Sobczak, survived the crash with serious injuries.
Nicole Biffle's complaint names both the estate of Greg Biffle and Sobczak as defendants. The Sun reported that the suit alleges negligence in the operation and maintenance of the aircraft. Nicole Biffle claims she is owed damages as a surviving former spouse under North Carolina law, though the specific dollar amount sought has not been publicly disclosed.
The couple divorced in 2019 after more than a decade of marriage. Their divorce settlement reportedly included ongoing financial obligations from Greg Biffle to Nicole, which her attorneys argue entitle her to pursue claims against his estate following his death.
The legal theory rests on the argument that Greg Biffle's death, caused by alleged negligence, deprived Nicole Biffle of financial support she was legally entitled to receive under the terms of their divorce agreement. The complaint also targets Sobczak for his role as pilot-in-command of the aircraft at the time of the crash.
Nicole Biffle's filing is not the first legal action stemming from the January crash. The family of Ryan and Ryder Norris previously filed a $30 million wrongful death suit against the Biffle estate, alleging that negligence in the flight's planning and execution caused the deaths of the father and son who were passengers on the plane.
The Norris family's lawsuit named the estate and raised questions about the condition of the aircraft, the pilot's qualifications, and the decision to fly in the conditions present that morning. That case remains pending.
Separately, investigators uncovered allegations that individuals close to Biffle engaged in misconduct in the hours after the crash. As CLN previously reported, authorities say friends of the NASCAR driver launched a coordinated scheme to steal from him while his body was still at the crash site. That investigation added a disturbing dimension to the aftermath of the tragedy.
The Pilatus PC-12 went down shortly after departing from a private grass airstrip on Biffle's Mooresville property. The National Transportation Safety Board opened an investigation into the crash. As of the most recent public updates, the NTSB has not released a final determination of probable cause.
Witnesses described the plane struggling to gain altitude before it crashed in a wooded area near the airstrip. Emergency responders arrived to find the aircraft destroyed. Biffle and the two Norris passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. Sobczak was transported to a hospital with injuries described as serious but not life-threatening.
Investigators will need to determine whether mechanical failure, pilot error, weather conditions, or some combination contributed to the crash. The NTSB's final report, which typically takes 12 to 24 months to complete, will be a central piece of evidence in all pending litigation.
The question of whether a former spouse can bring a wrongful death claim varies by state. North Carolina law generally limits wrongful death actions to personal representatives of the estate, but claims for loss of financial support tied to existing court orders can open the door for ex-spouses in certain circumstances.
Nicole Biffle's attorneys appear to be arguing that the divorce settlement created a continuing financial relationship that Greg Biffle's death severed. If the court accepts that theory, it could allow her claim to proceed alongside the Norris family's suit and any other actions filed against the estate.
The legal landscape around wrongful death claims by former spouses remains unsettled in many jurisdictions. Courts have split on whether alimony or support obligations survive the death of the paying spouse and whether negligence by a third party can create liability to the ex-spouse. In cases where families seek accountability after fatal incidents through wrongful death litigation, the identity and legal relationship of the plaintiff often becomes a contested threshold issue.
Sobczak faces potential liability on multiple fronts. As pilot-in-command, federal aviation regulations placed the ultimate responsibility for the safety of the flight on his shoulders. Both the Norris family lawsuit and Nicole Biffle's complaint name him as a defendant.
Authorities have not publicly stated whether Sobczak faces any criminal charges related to the crash. His attorneys have not made public statements about the pending civil claims. The NTSB investigation and any FAA enforcement action could shape the civil cases significantly, particularly if investigators identify specific errors or violations.
The dynamic of a surviving pilot facing suits from multiple families of deceased passengers creates a complex litigation environment. Defense attorneys in such cases often argue that the pilot was also a victim of whatever caused the crash, whether mechanical failure or unforeseen conditions. Plaintiffs counter that the pilot's training and judgment are precisely what passengers rely on for their safety.
Greg Biffle's estate now faces claims from at least two separate parties, with the possibility of additional filings. Biffle earned tens of millions of dollars during a NASCAR career that spanned nearly two decades. He won 19 Cup Series races and was a fixture in the sport's top tier during the 2000s and early 2010s.
His Mooresville property, which included the private airstrip, was part of a substantial portfolio of assets. The estate's personal representative will need to manage the defense of these lawsuits while also handling the normal probate process. High-profile disputes over estates, much like contentious financial battles between spouses in court, can drag on for years when multiple parties claim entitlement to the same pool of assets.
The competing claims between Nicole Biffle and the Norris family could create friction over the estate's resources. If both suits succeed, the total damages could approach or exceed the estate's value, forcing difficult allocation decisions.
The court has not yet set a trial date for Nicole Biffle's lawsuit. Initial motions and discovery are expected to take months. Sobczak's legal team will likely challenge the sufficiency of the claims against him, and the estate's representatives may raise defenses related to Nicole Biffle's standing as an ex-spouse.
The NTSB's final report will be a turning point. If it identifies clear pilot error, the negligence claims become far stronger. If it points to mechanical failure, the litigation could shift toward the aircraft manufacturer or maintenance providers, potentially adding new defendants.
For now, the legal aftermath of Greg Biffle's death keeps expanding. A racing career that brought fame and fortune has given way to courtroom battles over who bears responsibility for a crash that took three lives and left a trail of grief, blame, and competing claims on what remains.
When the lawsuits outnumber the survivors, the courts are left to sort out what accountability looks like after the fact. That process is just getting started.
