WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | NTSB: Flight crew error led to Hendrick plane crash that killed ten
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The plane crashed into Bull Mountain in October 2004.
Wreckage from the rough terrain had to be removed by helicopter.
The plane missed its approach to Blue Ridge airport by five miles.The National Transportation Safety Board has ruled that flight crew error is the probable cause of the plane crash near Martinsville than killed ten people in October 2004. The NTSB ruled Tuesday the crew failed to properly execute the published instrument approach procedure at Blue Ridge Airport.
The Hendrick Motorsports plane crashed into the side of Bull Mountain in Patrick County after attempting a landing at the airport. All ten people aboard were killed, a loss felt across the entire NASCAR family.
Investigators say navigational confusion involving the plane's GPS readings led the crew to approach the airport well above the typical altitude and descend to landing altitude almost five miles past the airport. At that point, the plane began to climb, and had it turned to the right instead of remaining on a generally straight course, it still would have avoided Bull Mountain. Such a right turn is the standard missed approach procedure employed at the airport.
The plane was attempting to bring members of the Hendrick family and company employees for that day's race at Martinsville Speedway.
