NASCAR team owner's jet skids off Key West runway

Florida Keys News - Key West Citizen

Monday, October 31, 2011

NASCAR team owner's jet skids off Key West runway

A private G150 Gulfstream jet with four people aboard ran off the end of the Key West International Airport runway and into the salt ponds while landing Monday night.

No one was seriously injured in the 7:45 p.m. incident.

The airplane was co-owned by Jimmie Johnson Racing II Inc. and Hendrick Motorsports LLC of Charlotte, N.C. The famous NASCAR driver was not on board, Monroe County Airports Director Peter Horton said.

Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick and his wife, Linda Hendrick, were treated and released from Lower Keys Medical Center; one had neck pain and the other had complained of shortness of breath and heart palpitations, according to Monroe County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Deputy Becky Herrin.

The two pilots also were taken to the hospital as a precaution.

The airport was closed for about an hour afterward. Some fuel spilled, but it was unknown how much.

The small-business jet was approaching the west end of the runway. The pilot said he landed, but had no brakes, Herrin said.

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Jet Fuel Spill

Submitted on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 9:01pm by KWgirl

And nothing written about the Jet Fuel Spill? I live at KWBTS and the smell was nauseating to say the least - what a waste of the perfect weather to have to close everything up. However, as a HUGE NASCAR fan, it was upsetting to learn of yet another tragedy to befall the Hendricks family. I was happy to hear that they walked away relatively unscathed.

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Why not Boca Chica Runway?

Submitted on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 12:40pm by Even Keel

It doesn't say it in this article and I may be very wrong about this. But, I've heard that the pilots radioed ahead to notify the KWIA tower that the plane had a hydraulic problem and no brakes. Why did the KWIA not contact NAS Boca Chica with their 2+ mile long runway and have this crippled plane land there? Why not foam the Boca Chica runway for this? If anything it would be good practice if a bigger plane with 50+ people on board has the same problem.