Wow......what a day here in Martinsville.....

[Beefcake]

As some of you know I work at a TV station here in Martinsville and we've been on top of the plane crash involving Hendrick Motor Sports Personal and Family. I'm rather busy atm but I'll try to keep you guys informed, those that are interested.

[Lizking]

Man, I heard that at least 2 Hendricks where on the plane, as well as 4-5 others.  Any news?

[rpm]

Update Breaking News Virginia Plane Crash Kills 10, Including Son Of NASCAR Owner
 
 
team amber alert breaking news update

PATRICK COUNTY, Va. -- The son of NASCAR owner Rick Hendrick was among 10 people killed Sunday when a small plane headed from Concord to Martinsville crashed in Patrick County in Virginia.

Ricky Hendrick, a former NASCAR driver, died in the incident. John Hendrick, Rick's brother, and Kimberly and Jennifer Hendrick, John's twin daughters, also died in the crash.

The plane was en route to Martinsville Speedway for Sunday's Subway 500. Jimmie Johnson was driving the Hendrick car in the race and was the winner. Officials reportedly lost contact with the plane at about 12:30.

team amber alert will update this as soon as we get more information

The Federal Aviation Administration is confirming a plane owned by Hendrick motorsports has crashed in Patrick County.

About 12:30 this afternoon, the King Air 200 disappeared from radar. Wreckage was spotted about seven miles west of the Martinsville airport on Bull Mountain.

Ten people were reported on board. Team owner Rick Hendrick was not on the plane. There are unconfirmed reports that his brother and team president, John Hendrick was on board.

Also team co-owner and Rick Hendrick's youngest son Ricky Hendrick and other members of the family were believed on the plane.

Note: Our prayers are with this family and their community. Continue to pray for them and the responders.

 

I saw an interview with Rusty Wallace who has over 9,000 hours as a pilot, on Speedchannel's NASCAR Victory Lane. He said Martinsville and Talladega are the 2 most dangerous approaches on the circuit. He called them antiquated and in desperate need of updating.

[Beefcake]

RPM basically posted what we've heard here. I will say, according to witnesses, the plane was flying VERY low into a valley and very slowly, some belive it's engines weren't running. Another thing is the entire area today was blanket with a thick fog, our Studio is on a hill overlooking the area south of the city and you could only see for about 1 mile or less. If that plane hit that fog (and witnesses say it was very foggy) I can kinda see how the accident happened.



Also on a side note, Martinsville doesn't have an airport, the closest airport to Martinsville is the Blue Ridge Airport which is about....oh...I'd say 15 or so miles from the track. (its only 5 miles from my house) It's a moderately difficult approach as the airport is surrounded by large hills.

Side note #2: The Collins Foundation's B17 and B24 were both at the Blue Ridge Airport about a week ago.

Side note #3: The plane that crashed today, crashed near a mountain known as Bull Mountain. That mountain is kinda famous because in WW2 a B24 crashed into the mountain while flying in fog.

[flakbait]

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Ten people died Sunday in the crash of an airplane owned by the Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR racing team, the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed.

The plane was on its way to a NASCAR race in Martinsville. Eight passengers and two pilots died in the crash, the NTSB said.

Harry Litten, manager Moody Funeral Service in Stuart, said the state police had given him this list of those on the Beech 200: Ricky Hendrick, Rick Hendrick's son and also a NASCAR driver; John Hendrick, Rick Hendrick's brother and president of the organization; Kimberly and Jennifer Hendrick, John Hendrick's twin daughters; Joe Jackson; Jeff Turner; Randy Dorton, the team's chief engine builder; Scott Latham, a pilot for NASCAR driver Tony Stewart; and pilots Dick Tracy and Liz Morrison.

NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said the FAA has notified the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating to determine what happened.

Murray said the Beech 200 took off from Concord, N.C., and crashed in the Bull Mountain area about seven miles west of the Martinsville airport at about 12:30 p.m.

Virginia State Police Sgt. Michael Bailey said rescue workers could not immediately reach the crash site because of the rough terrain.

Hendrick owns the teams of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Terry Labonte and Brian Vickers in the Nextel Cup Series.

Johnson won Sunday' race at Martinsville Speedway.

Hunter said NASCAR learned of the plane's disappearance during the race and withheld the information from the Hendrick drivers until afterward.

All the Hendrick drivers were summoned to the NASCAR hauler immediately after the race and Johnson was excused from Victory Lane.

I have to admit, most of the time I wasn't rootin for Hendrick teams. Hell, I really don't have the words for what happened. Their families, and NASCAR, are gonna miss 'em.

------------------------
Flakbait [Delta6]

[Otto]

Very sad