[Team Yates]

Hendrick plane crash trial could start later this month: More than four years after a Hendrick Motorsports plane crash that killed 10 people on the way to the NASCAR Cup race Oct. 24, 2004, at Martinsville Speedway, lawsuits over who was responsible for the crash could finally go to trial in the next couple of weeks. A final pretrial conference is set for Friday in cases involving Hendrick Motorsports, the estates of the pilots, the U.S. government and the widows of Hendrick Motorsports engine builder Randy Dorton, general manager Jeff Turner and Tony Stewart pilot Scott Lathram (a passenger on the plane). The trial could start as early as next Monday in U.S. District Court in Winston-Salem, N.C. At issue is who is responsible for the accident – HMS Holdings (parent company of Hendrick Motorsports), the pilots themselves or the air-traffic controllers. According to court documents, the crash resulted when the pilots overshot the airport by five miles and failed to follow the missed-approach procedure for the Martinsville/Blue Ridge Airport, which requires a climbing right turn to avoid Bull Mountain. The plane, in heavy cloud cover, climbed without turning and crashed into the mountain, killing all 10 aboard.(Scene Daily)(4-13-2009)

[Curves24]

Wow. Why does it seem like there always has to be someone at fault? Is there no such thing as an accident anymore?
Sad that it happened, but when my number is up I hope my loved ones don't search for money at someone elses expense unless they murdered me

[JBurtonFanInMayberry]

Originally Posted by Curves24

Wow. Why does it seem like there always has to be someone at fault? Is there no such thing as an accident anymore?
Sad that it happened, but when my number is up I hope my loved ones don't search for money at someone elses expense unless they murdered me

I was going to post the exact same sentiments...good post!!!

[disco stu]

So was I.

It seems we now live in a world where blame MUST be apportioned.

Mind you, if I were one of the bereaved I might be seeing things from a different perspective I suppose...

As it seems that it will be going ahead, I hope that this process achieves more than just reminding all concerned of a very traumatic and unhappy time in their lives.

[nascaraddict]

I guess it's just my memory, but I thought it's been longer since that happened. Secondly, I did'nt think that it'd be a trial worthy event either.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by nascaraddict

I guess it's just my memory, but I thought it's been longer since that happened. Secondly, I didn't think that it'd be a trial worthy event either.

Unfortunately in today's society a lawsuit is the answer to all of our woes.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Unfortunately in today's society a lawsuit is the answer to all of our woes.

unfortunately, there's no "down side" to such law suits .. the plaintiffs don't risk a judgement against themselves, so everyone is fair game.

[flflash47]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

unfortunately, there's no "down side" to such law suits .. the plaintiffs don't risk a judgement against themselves, so everyone is fair game.

There Ya go. Have you ever noticed you never see a lawsuit when neither party has money or insurance? hmmmmm

As far as this particular Sad Accident goes I dont beleive any legal system would be able to truly surmise what might have happened on that plane. Being a Private plane landing at small airport there's very little TAPED radio communication/no radar telemetry/no "black box" on the aircraft and unfourtunately no one left to tell the story. Very Sad Event.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by flflash47

As far as this particular Sad Accident goes I dont beleive any legal system would be able to truly surmise what might have happened on that plane. Being a Private plane landing at small airport there's very little TAPED radio communication/no radar telemetry/no "black box" on the aircraft and unfourtunately no one left to tell the story. Very Sad Event.

But yet, even though they might not be able to prove exactly what happened, there is a jury out there that will award them millions.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by jks812

But yet, even though they might not be able to prove exactly what happened, there is a jury out there that will award them millions.

of course! accidents don't just happen, there has to be SOMEBODY who's to blame!!!

[Curves24]

Hendrick Motorsports plane crash trial starts: A trial to determine who was responsible for the Hendrick Motorsports plane crash that killed 10 people Oct. 24, 2004, on the way to a NASCAR Cup race at Martinsville Speedway is scheduled to begin Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Winston-Salem, N.C. At issue is who is responsible for the accident – HMS Holdings (parent company of Hendrick Motorsports), the pilots themselves or the government, which is responsible for the air-traffic controllers. The trial covers five cases involving widows Dianne Dorton (wife of HMS engine builder Randy Dorton), Linda Turner (wife of HMS general manager Jeff Turner), and Tracy Lathram (wife of Tony Stewart pilot Scott Lathram, a passenger on the plane); HMS Holdings; the pilots’ estates; and the United States. According to court documents, the crash resulted when the pilots overshot the airport by five miles and failed to follow the missed-approach procedure for the Martinsville/Blue Ridge Airport, which requires a climbing right turn to avoid Bull Mountain. The plane, in heavy cloud cover, climbed without turning and crashed into the mountain, killing all 10 aboard.(SceneDaily)(4-22-2009)