Ben Blake article ---

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TexasRaceLady

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Found this at www.speedtv.com/commentary

A Nightmare We Can't Wake Up From
Written by: Ben Blake
Richmond, Va. – 10/25/2004

This morning, we all woke up and realize the vague nightmare of Sunday afternoon wasn’t just a dream. Today, Rick Hendrick and his family, Hendrick Motorsports, and, to some extent the rest of us, begin putting together hard pieces and grim data as all attempt to go on after Sunday’s fatal plane crash in the mountains of Virginia, which took 10 lives.
..........I cut this down -- full article at link posted by smack. I couldn't get it to work. *sigh*
Aside from the enormous personal losses Sunday, some ugly animals surface from the deep.

* Could this be the ruin of Hendrick Motorsports? It may be cold-blooded to speculate so soon, and it will take months the gauge the effects. There is no doubt that the brain, if not the heart, has been knocked out of the sport’s most successful organization.


* Most ominous – and this has been mentioned to me in just about every intelligent e-mail and phone call through this Monday – is this: We’ve been whistling past the graveyard in terms of team transportation, something we take for granted – hey, everybody’s going to be there, got to be there.

As NASCAR flings itself to the four corners of the earth (Mexico? Seattle?), and as the competitors take on increasing business and promotion duties, the teams and drivers now rely almost totally on private airplanes, with all the risks inherent. Something like what happened Sunday was inevitable, and we shouldn’t be surprised that it happened – or when it happens again.

The postscript could be that NASCAR now demands too much of its “independent contractors” (although this was an hour hop from Concord to Martinsville) in running too far too fast. That’s racing, right?

We questioned this in the aftermath of the Kulwicki accident, and in those days half the races were in the Southeast. Under current and proposed schedules, however, NASCAR’s competitors will be asked to dart madly to destinations across North America, with increasing stress on pilots and planes.

Growth is good, right? Don’t be surprised that it happened now, and don’t be surprised if it happens again.

Ben Blake is a Senior Writer for RACER magazine.
 
Thanks TRL for posting that.
I have to admit when I woke up this morning I was truly hoping that I'd just had a horriable nightmare. but when I turned on TV SPEED News was on and it only confirmed it wasn't just a nightmare. :(
 
Maybe another reason to think more seriously about the two day race weekend idea. Team personnel safety would be greatly increased by having more time to get to a designated place---IMHO.
 
While we all agree that this accident is tragic, would it have been any less so if those 10 people had been killed while traveling to the race in a company van and been involved in a highway accident?

The last I knew, flying was a much safer method of travel than surface travel on the nation's highways.

These folks all use their aircraft in much the same manner as most of us use our cars and trucks. Of course there are going to be tragic accidents.
But they are still safer flying than they would be trying to meet the demands of their schedule in any other manner.

It sounds to me as if Ben Blake is using this accident to try and re-enforce a personal agenda of limiting the NASCAR schedule to tracks in the southeast instead of growing the business nationwide.

This is not the first time a business organization has been subjected to such tragic loss; I seriously doubt that it will be the last.

While the next days and weeks will most certainly be hard on everyone involved, I would imagine that Rick Hendrick and the others in management positions within his business empire will be able to put their grief and sorrow. the huge personal loss aside, and continue on with their lives, as well as the businesses which comprise the Hendrick empire.
To question the future of Hendrick Motorsports at this time is really not at all in good taste; to question that future in an article as Ben Blake has done is most certainly not called for.

At least let the families have time to mourn and bury their loved ones before we start to condemn the business to failure and attempt to blame the growth of NASCAR for an unfortunate accident.

Perhaps the families of those who died may find some small comfort in the fact that the entire NASCAR, indeed the entire racing world, shares in their sense of loss and will be keeping them in thoughts and prayers throughout the coming extremely difficult days; may those lost loved ones find rest, peace and mercy in the presence of the Lord.
 
Well I work in the aerospace industry, engine manufacturing specifiacally. Racing at all four corners of North America puts no more stress on planes or pilots than driving your car to the store. If the pilots aren't flying the driver to a race, then they are flying somebody else somewhere else. That's how they make their money. It may be tiring for the teams, but the planes don't feel a thing as long as they are properly maintained.

The Pt-6 engines on Hendricks' plane are two of, (if not the MOST) reliable turbo props money can buy. The airframe, (Raytheon) has been the most popular for short hops since the early eighties.
These planes, and the other longer range Gulf Stream buisness jets, can do this week in, week out for years.
Limiting how far they travel only limits how close to home they are when an accident happens.
 
It is up to the driver whether or not they will compete in two series. Nobody is forcing them to do it.
 
Well I work in the aerospace industry, engine manufacturing specifiacally. Racing at all four corners of North America puts no more stress on planes or pilots than driving your car to the store. If the pilots aren't flying the driver to a race, then they are flying somebody else somewhere else. That's how they make their money. It may be tiring for the teams, but the planes don't feel a thing as long as they are properly maintained.
Click to expand...

My brother is a pilot for a business, and its the same thing. If the business he works for doesnt need the jet, then it is being rented out to someone else. He is putting his hours in the air in every week regardless of who or what he is transporting. I believe this tragedy is a result of weather conditions, NOT because of a hecktic schedule. Just my opinion.
 
Originally posted by MCanyon@Oct 26 2004, 08:29 AM
Well I work in the aerospace industry, engine manufacturing specifiacally. Racing at all four corners of North America puts no more stress on planes or pilots than driving your car to the store. If the pilots aren't flying the driver to a race, then they are flying somebody else somewhere else. That's how they make their money. It may be tiring for the teams, but the planes don't feel a thing as long as they are properly maintained.
Click to expand...

My brother is a pilot for a business, and its the same thing. If the business he works for doesnt need the jet, then it is being rented out to someone else. He is putting his hours in the air in every week regardless of who or what he is transporting. I believe this tragedy is a result of weather conditions, NOT because of a hecktic schedule. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...
Howdy Mc
If you ask your brother he will tell you the truth..It was pilot error! Plain and simple. That mountain was there before the pilot flew the plane straight into it. The mountain did not jump out in front of the plane. That plane was most likely equipped with instruments that could tell him where the mountain was if he used them all. That particular aircraft is not bothered by the weather that was in the area it is designed to fly thru that stuff all day long. Even the co-pilot should have known of the mountain and the danger of not knowing where it was in the fog.. Plain and simple the pilot killed em all. The weather had nothing to do with the accident! The pilots (both) were trained to fly in instrument only weather and should have referred back to their training. Yep, killed em all.
B.
 
Originally posted by Betsy+Oct 26 2004, 09:45 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Betsy @ Oct 26 2004, 09:45 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-MCanyon@Oct 26 2004, 08:29 AM
Well I work in the aerospace industry, engine manufacturing specifiacally. Racing at all four corners of North America puts no more stress on planes or pilots than driving your car to the store. If the pilots aren't flying the driver to a race, then they are flying somebody else somewhere else. That's how they make their money. It may be tiring for the teams, but the planes don't feel a thing as long as they are properly maintained.
Click to expand...

My brother is a pilot for a business, and its the same thing. If the business he works for doesnt need the jet, then it is being rented out to someone else. He is putting his hours in the air in every week regardless of who or what he is transporting. I believe this tragedy is a result of weather conditions, NOT because of a hecktic schedule. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...
Howdy Mc
If you ask your brother he will tell you the truth..It was pilot error! Plain and simple. That mountain was there before the pilot flew the plane straight into it. The mountain did not jump out in front of the plane. That plane was most likely equipped with instruments that could tell him where the mountain was if he used them all. That particular aircraft is not bothered by the weather that was in the area it is designed to fly thru that stuff all day long. Even the co-pilot should have known of the mountain and the danger of not knowing where it was in the fog.. Plain and simple the pilot killed em all. The weather had nothing to do with the accident! The pilots (both) were trained to fly in instrument only weather and should have referred back to their training. Yep, killed em all.
B. [/b][/quote]
aren't you a breath of fresh air? :blink:
 
Originally posted by Betsy+Oct 26 2004, 09:45 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Betsy @ Oct 26 2004, 09:45 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-MCanyon@Oct 26 2004, 08:29 AM
Well I work in the aerospace industry, engine manufacturing specifiacally. Racing at all four corners of North America puts no more stress on planes or pilots than driving your car to the store. If the pilots aren't flying the driver to a race, then they are flying somebody else somewhere else. That's how they make their money. It may be tiring for the teams, but the planes don't feel a thing as long as they are properly maintained.
Click to expand...

My brother is a pilot for a business, and its the same thing. If the business he works for doesnt need the jet, then it is being rented out to someone else. He is putting his hours in the air in every week regardless of who or what he is transporting. I believe this tragedy is a result of weather conditions, NOT because of a hecktic schedule. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...
Howdy Mc
If you ask your brother he will tell you the truth..It was pilot error! Plain and simple. That mountain was there before the pilot flew the plane straight into it. The mountain did not jump out in front of the plane. That plane was most likely equipped with instruments that could tell him where the mountain was if he used them all. That particular aircraft is not bothered by the weather that was in the area it is designed to fly thru that stuff all day long. Even the co-pilot should have known of the mountain and the danger of not knowing where it was in the fog.. Plain and simple the pilot killed em all. The weather had nothing to do with the accident! The pilots (both) were trained to fly in instrument only weather and should have referred back to their training. Yep, killed em all.
B. [/b][/quote]
How VERY distasteful. Would you mind waiting until the investigation is done BEFORE you decide to roast someone??? :angry:
 
Think before you post Betsy.
The plane wasn't equipped with a ground proximity indicator.
Something that is very common on aircraft today.

You don't know all the circumstances, don't be so quick to hang someone.
 
Oh, and there is NOTHING plain and simple about this accident. Nor ANY tragic plane crash.
 
If you ask your brother he will tell you the truth..It was pilot error! Plain and simple. That mountain was there before the pilot flew the plane straight into it. The mountain did not jump out in front of the plane. That plane was most likely equipped with instruments that could tell him where the mountain was if he used them all. That particular aircraft is not bothered by the weather that was in the area it is designed to fly thru that stuff all day long. Even the co-pilot should have known of the mountain and the danger of not knowing where it was in the fog.. Plain and simple the pilot killed em all. The weather had nothing to do with the accident! The pilots (both) were trained to fly in instrument only weather and should have referred back to their training. Yep, killed em all.
Click to expand...


sure the pilot is the one flying the plane that crashed. but it is the weather conditions that cause the pilot to crash. mechanical failures aside, more plane crashes occure in bad weather conditions. look at the John Kennedy Jr. plane crash.

if the conditions are worse for the pilot, then yes there is a greater chance for error.
 
another thing.

there has been a lot said lately about the content of posts around here as to what is acceptable and what isnt.

im all for an open discussion that allows people to speak negatively about drivers if they wish. hey, its their opinion.

but your comments about this tragedy are really distastefull. i hope you never have to experience something like this first hand.
 
Originally posted by Betsy+Oct 26 2004, 09:45 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Betsy @ Oct 26 2004, 09:45 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-MCanyon@Oct 26 2004, 08:29 AM
Well I work in the aerospace industry, engine manufacturing specifiacally. Racing at all four corners of North America puts no more stress on planes or pilots than driving your car to the store. If the pilots aren't flying the driver to a race, then they are flying somebody else somewhere else. That's how they make their money. It may be tiring for the teams, but the planes don't feel a thing as long as they are properly maintained.
Click to expand...

My brother is a pilot for a business, and its the same thing. If the business he works for doesnt need the jet, then it is being rented out to someone else. He is putting his hours in the air in every week regardless of who or what he is transporting. I believe this tragedy is a result of weather conditions, NOT because of a hecktic schedule. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...
Howdy Mc
If you ask your brother he will tell you the truth..It was pilot error! Plain and simple. That mountain was there before the pilot flew the plane straight into it. The mountain did not jump out in front of the plane. That plane was most likely equipped with instruments that could tell him where the mountain was if he used them all. That particular aircraft is not bothered by the weather that was in the area it is designed to fly thru that stuff all day long. Even the co-pilot should have known of the mountain and the danger of not knowing where it was in the fog.. Plain and simple the pilot killed em all. The weather had nothing to do with the accident! The pilots (both) were trained to fly in instrument only weather and should have referred back to their training. Yep, killed em all.
B. [/b][/quote]
Do you troll to instigate trouble? Your posts are the most off the wall and wierd as any I've ever seen. :angry:
 
Heard today that over twenty other pilots that day decided not to land at Blue Ridge Airport because of the weather conditions. After they were given permission to land, the pilot requested another fly around and was on their way around for another try when they crashed. It's true they didn't have a ground proximity indicator and they also didn't have a voice or data recorder so this isn't going to be a very easy job to find out what happened. Rusty Wallace says that this airport is not a very good one and very much like the airport at Taladega. Both of those airports are not manned. Because this track is so close to the race shops, most of the people travel by cars rather than fly in. However, they do fly in to Dega and because there is so much traffic at that time, the FAA does send a crew to work that airport during the races.
 
Originally posted by buckaroo@Oct 26 2004, 02:26 PM
Heard today that over twenty other pilots that day decided not to land at Blue Ridge Airport because of the weather conditions. After they were given permission to land, the pilot requested another fly around and was on their way around for another try when they crashed. It's true they didn't have a ground proximity indicator and they also didn't have a voice or data recorder so this isn't going to be a very easy job to find out what happened. Rusty Wallace says that this airport is not a very good one and very much like the airport at Taladega. Both of those airports are not manned. Because this track is so close to the race shops, most of the people travel by cars rather than fly in. However, they do fly in to Dega and because there is so much traffic at that time, the FAA does send a crew to work that airport during the races.
Click to expand...
Like I said "pilot error"! 20 others went to another airport.. This guy was on his second pass when he went into the mountain.. What else could you call it? Pilot error is the only answer. Why be politicaly correct and say "lets wait and see"... Hey if 21 planes had went to another airport then these folks would still be alive. In my book that is pilot error. Even you folks that are making dismayed posts about me KNOW it was pilot error. Why not just say it? The dude killed all those folks by making the wrong decesion. Plain and simple.
Betsy ;)
 
Just because 20 other pilots went to another airport doesn't mean they would have crashed too. Odds are in favor of it being pilot error, I wont deny that. But for all you know he may have been turning around for a second pass and the engine died.
You WANT it to be the pilot's fault because you want someone to blame. It wont bring them back.
 
Originally posted by Betsy@Oct 26 2004, 04:10 PM
Like I said "pilot error"!&nbsp; 20 others went to another airport..&nbsp; This guy was on his second pass when he went into the mountain..&nbsp; What else could you call it?&nbsp; Pilot error is the only answer.&nbsp; Why be politicaly correct and say "lets wait and see"... Hey if 21 planes had went to another airport then these folks would still be alive.&nbsp; In my book that is pilot error.&nbsp; Even you folks that are making dismayed posts about me KNOW it was pilot error.&nbsp; Why not just say it?&nbsp; The dude killed all those folks by making the wrong decesion.&nbsp; Plain and simple.
Betsy ;)
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Does this make YOU feel better??? Cause, it sure don't make me feel any better. As far as I'm concerned, it's the FAA's fault for not upgrading the airfield. Do you just need SOMEONE to blame??? I don't get you.
 
Betsy, with no disrespect meant----exactly how many flight hours do you have again?

Give the blame a break. Now isnt the time.
 
Hey, it could be pilot error, but then again, it might not be. We'll probably find out some time sooner or later. But when one of our guys gets wrecked on the track, we don't feel it's necessary to wait to see what or who to blame and lash out right then and there. This last race is a great example of telling it the way you see it with what happened to Rusty. I think that Betsy is a bit too far ahead in her thinking, but we see this all the time here on this board. Right now, I'm more concerned with the survivors of the dead to think about whose at fault. I think about my own family and how I'd react if something like this happened to me. What a tragedy for Rick and his wife, not to mention the families of all the victims.
 
Betsy, back off a bit. It is time for grieving not blaming. Besdies, who are we to place blame without first hand knowledge. I am still in a state of shock. :(
 
its either pilot error, mechanical error, or both. but if it is pilot error. its due to the weather conditions. i dont think they would have flown into the mountain, had the ceiling been higher than 600.

the weather was without a doubt a contributing factor. maybe the pilots made some bad judgements, and got in over their heads. but, im sure it wasnt intentional.
 
To answer those questions I have lots of hours in the left seat. We had a contract bringing gold fish out of Brazil and several other country's. We had WWII B-25's and took em through it all... But we never went into a mountain with a 600 ft ceiling. We lost engines and we bent landing gear. We flew over water for hours at a time, took what some folks would say was lots of chances. But we never flew into a mountain. It is up to the pilot to NOT do that.
Betsy
 
Betsy, God willing, if you are so dam good, I wonder why YOU weren't flying that plane?????

Lighten up!!! Please!!!!!
At this time, so early in this devastating situation, we don't need your particular type of "blame game"!!!!!!!!!

I would rather wait till all the facts are in and the FAA and the NTSB have done all their investigations. Unless YOU are on one of those teams, please, back off this subject!!!!!!!!!
 
betsy, i know that there is no rationalizing with someone like you. but, you said that its the pilots job not to fly the plane into the mountain. obviously weather is a variable here that helped cause the accident. WEATHER WAS A FACTOR.

say your kids hid your keys on you and you're late for work. it is you who is responsible for getting to work on time. but your kids were a factor in that.

i know your here just to start arguments.
 
it's much to soon to assume the cause of the crash just yet. do you remember the flight that crashed right after 9/11 into queens and everyone at first assumed it was terrorists? that turned out to be mechaniccal failure or pilot error, i don't remember which. we need to wait and be patient to find out the cause

this reminds me of how people blamed sterling when dale died...
 
The weather was not a factor to the 20 or so pilots that did the correct thing and flew their cliants OUT of danger! The weather did not crash that plane the pilot FLEW it into a mountain... His charts showed it to him even if he did not have radar showing it. Hey that pilot had nine other lives to think of and he did not! He killed em all. You can argue otherwise and say to wait and see. If you are grown and ready to make grownup decesions then you know I am right. And Yes I am putting the blame right on the pilot. He had a perfectly good airplane and he flew it straight into a mountain. Hey I have flown under bridges and I have landed on the causway outside of New Orleans before it had the guard rails installed on it... But I never had nine live bodys to think about when I did it.
Betsy
 
My life has changed since Keith whitley died and whenever stuff happens, I'm reminded. I'm not a religious person, but...I hope those guys get through it.

:)
 
The weather was not a factor to the 20 or so pilots that did the correct thing and flew their cliants OUT of danger!
Click to expand...

sure it was. they were heading to the martinsville air port and ended up turning away BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.

just like the hendrick plan crashed due to the weather (at least that is how it looks. they may find mechanical failure)

betsy, if it was a clear day out, do you think that the plane would have crashed?

yes the pilot has charts to show him the mountain there. but it is possible that the visability and wind disorented them temporarily. I know that pilots should never put themselves into situations that they cannot handle. but they were. and what was the situation that they could not hadle? THE WEATHER.

now why dont you tell us the story about when you flew the B52 under the Pride of St. Louis and then landed on a two lane highway during rush hour, while you had one hand tied behind your back and the other was used to pat your own back.
 
To amplify what boB said:
The last I knew, flying was a much safer method of travel than surface travel on the nation's highways.
Click to expand...

Last year there were 576 air traffic fatalities. It is estimated that since airline deregulation making air travel more affordable there are 2-300 fewer automobile traffic fatalities. Also, the number of air traffic fatalities has been in constant decline over the past decade. Air travel is still one of the safest.

As to who is to blame, the pilot, FAA, the airport, the weather, the mountain, etc. I'm just not in the blame game. It serves no purpose except as a reminder that we are not invincible and sometimes things just go wrong.
 
Originally posted by Patrick9999@Oct 27 2004, 01:08 AM
My life has changed since Keith whitley died and whenever stuff happens, I'm reminded. I'm not a religious person, but...I hope those guys get through it.

:)
Click to expand...
Does it really matter today, who or what was responsible for the plane crash ????

The headlines read the same no matter what the reason(s).

Now is a time for the Hendrick Family, friends, fans and others to mourn with a dignity and in a privacy they deserve.

In due time the investigation and report will be released and made public. For right this minute, there is no immediate need to place blame.

Keith Whitley, IMO, was one of the greatest country singers, ever. He ranks up there with Hank Williams and George Jones when it comes to singers who not only had the ability to compose, but to also sing from the heart. His life was cut short but his music will live forever.

Life ended quickly at an early age or in a tragic manner is never easy to accept or understand.
 
I believe that someone is accomplishing their goal. Creating a hornets nest out of tragedy. :(
 
Originally posted by MCanyon@Oct 27 2004, 08:02 AM
The weather was not a factor to the 20 or so pilots that did the correct thing and flew their cliants OUT of danger!
Click to expand...

sure it was. they were heading to the martinsville air port and ended up turning away BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.

just like the hendrick plan crashed due to the weather (at least that is how it looks. they may find mechanical failure)

betsy, if it was a clear day out, do you think that the plane would have crashed?

yes the pilot has charts to show him the mountain there. but it is possible that the visability and wind disorented them temporarily. I know that pilots should never put themselves into situations that they cannot handle. but they were. and what was the situation that they could not hadle? THE WEATHER.

now why dont you tell us the story about when you flew the B52 under the Pride of St. Louis and then landed on a two lane highway during rush hour, while you had one hand tied behind your back and the other was used to pat your own back.
Click to expand...
Mc if you are gonna rag on me at least get it right. It was NOT a b-52 I have never been inside of one of those. We flew B-25 WWII surplus bombers back and forth to South America carrying gold fish.. Which is mostly a load of water with some fish in it.
As for landing on the new bridge in New Orleans.. It was a Piper Cherokee and NOT a B-25. At the time is was fun and kicks... we never considered it to be possibly a deadly prank. Prolly would not do it today. Thanks for asking.
Betsy :wub:
 
Originally posted by buckaroo@Oct 26 2004, 02:26 PM
Heard today that over twenty other pilots that day decided not to land at Blue Ridge Airport because of the weather conditions. After they were given permission to land, the pilot requested another fly around and was on their way around for another try when they crashed. It's true they didn't have a ground proximity indicator and they also didn't have a voice or data recorder so this isn't going to be a very easy job to find out what happened. Rusty Wallace says that this airport is not a very good one and very much like the airport at Taladega. Both of those airports are not manned. Because this track is so close to the race shops, most of the people travel by cars rather than fly in. However, they do fly in to Dega and because there is so much traffic at that time, the FAA does send a crew to work that airport during the races.
Click to expand...
Did Rusty say why he didn't like the Dega airport? Was it because of outdated equipment? unmanned towers? I must've missed that. I know it's not because of the surroundings, it's in a cotton field.
 
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