Hendricks survive plane's crash landing
An aircraft carrying Rick and Linda Hendrick ran off the runway at Key West airport.
Share This Story
KEY WEST, Fla. (AP)
A small jet carrying the owner of NASCAR's top team and his wife lost its brakes and crash landed at a Key West, Fla., airport Monday evening, and the couple suffered minor injuries, officials said.
The Gulfstream 150 aircraft ran off the runway at the Key West International Airport Monday at 7:45 p.m. Rick and Linda Hendrick, a pilot and co-pilot were all taken to Lower Keys Medical Centers. The Hendricks had minor injuries and the pilot and co-pilot were taken in as a precaution, said county airport director Peter Horton.
Risky business
In a sport where traveling is a way of life, NASCAR has had its share of airplane tragedies in its history. Rea White takes a look at previous accidents.Rick Hendrick was diagnosed with a broken rib and a broken clavicle, and Linda Hendrick was treated for minor cuts and bruises. Both pilots were evaluated and released without injury.
The Hendricks were released from Lower Keys Medical Center early Tuesday morning and all four have safely returned to North Carolina.
The plane is registered to Jimmie Johnson Racing II Incorporated in Charlotte, N.C. Johnson is a five-time defending NASCAR champion and drives for Hendrick Motorsports, which Rick Hendrick owns.
Besides Johnson, Hendrick also fields cars for four-time champion Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin. The team recently celebrated its 199th career victory in the Sprint Cup Series.
''It was a real big scare. Very frightening to hear,'' Earnhardt told reporters in Las Vegas, where he was attending the annual SEMA show, which showcases automotive specialty-equipment. ''I'm very glad that he and everybody appears to be OK.''
In 2004, a plane Hendrick owned crashed en route to a race in Martinsville, Va., killing all 10 onboard. That included Hendrick's son, Ricky, his brother and twin nieces.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, the pilot and co-pilot radioed that the plane had no brakes upon landing in Key West. Horton said the plane ran off the runway, and then 100 feet beyond a 600-foot safety area that was finished in May.
''If we hadn't done that, it likely would have been a different story,'' Horton said of the safety area that is meant as a runway overrun space.
Photographs of the crash show the plane largely intact and with its nose resting on the ground about 20 feet in front of a chain-linked airport boundary fence.
The National Transportation and Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash.
Related Stories
Trending Now
-
Report: Ex-champ Tapia found dead
Troubled five-time world boxing champion Johnny Tapia was found dead in his Albuquerq... -
Skydiver dies after both chutes fail
A veteran skydiver died in a horror accident in Australia over the weekend, when both... -
Spurs-Heat is culture clash we need
Boring? Hell, the Spurs are winners -- and winning can be more thrilling than porn. -
Two killed as rally car strikes crowd
A race car went out of control on a rural Irish road and crashed into a crowd of abou... -
Kahne captures Coca-Cola 600
Kahne charges to commanding Charlotte victory.
NASCAR Videos
Highlights: Coca-Cola 600
Posted: May 28, 2012
Watch highlights of the Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte. Kasey Kahne took the check...
Watch highlights of the Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte. Kasey Kahne took the check...
Auto Racing Power Rankings: Charlotte
Posted: May 28, 2012
FOXSports.com's Tommy Kendall breaks down who's rising and falling in the power ...
FOXSports.com's Tommy Kendall breaks down who's rising and falling in the power ...
Race Replay: Charlotte Laps 1 - 68
Posted: May 28, 2012
Watch the starting laps of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.
Watch the starting laps of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.
NASCAR Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Gordon Black Low Rider Adjustable Hat | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Jeff_Gordon/browse/featuredproduct/603017/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_603000/ff_603017_xl.jpg&w=100 | 21.95 | Jeff Gordon Black Low Rider Adjustable Hat |
| Joey Logano Orange Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Joey_Logano/browse/featuredproduct/603115/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_603000/ff_603115_xl.jpg&w=100 | 21.95 | Joey Logano Orange Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat |
| Checkered Flag Juan Pablo Montoya Red Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Juan_Pablo_Montoya/browse/featuredproduct/603117/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_603000/ff_603117_xl.jpg&w=100 | 21.95 | Checkered Flag Juan Pablo Montoya Red Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat |
| Dale Earnhardt Jr. Royal Blue Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Dale_Earnhardt_Jr/browse/featuredproduct/616723/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_616000/ff_616723_xl.jpg&w=100 | 21.95 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. Royal Blue Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat |
| Chase Authentics Jeff Burton Holiday Driver T-Shirt - Black | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Jeff_Burton/browse/featuredproduct/731363/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_731000/ff_731363_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Chase Authentics Jeff Burton Holiday Driver T-Shirt - Black |
| Chase Authentics Jeff Burton 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Jeff_Burton/browse/featuredproduct/731374/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_731000/ff_731374_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Chase Authentics Jeff Burton 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black |
| Chase Authentics Kevin Harvick 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Kevin_Harvick/browse/featuredproduct/731378/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_731000/ff_731378_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Chase Authentics Kevin Harvick 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black |
| Chase Authentics Matt Kenseth 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Matt_Kenseth/browse/featuredproduct/731380/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_731000/ff_731380_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Chase Authentics Matt Kenseth 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black |
| Chase Authentics Kyle Busch 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Kyle_Busch/browse/featuredproduct/731381/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_731000/ff_731381_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Chase Authentics Kyle Busch 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black |
| Chase Authentics Denny Hamlin 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Denny_Hamlin/browse/featuredproduct/786305/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_786000/ff_786305_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Chase Authentics Denny Hamlin 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "add a comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.