details of the accident were disclosed to the team. Investigation An investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) followed soon after the crash. Weather There were foggy conditions at the time of the plane crash. Pilot error as a cause The NTSB suggested that pilot error was the cause of the crash, partly by: the plane missing its first landing attempt before veering off course and crashing; the plane not climbing to its temporarily assigned altitude of ; it instead descended to before crashing. The NTSB concluded its investigation by suggesting that the pilots failed to execute an instrument approach procedure and that both failed to use all navigational aids to confirm the airplane's position during its approach. Aftermath Impact on Hendrick Motorsports On February 18, 2005, Marshall Carlson, Rick Hendrick's son-in-law, signed on as new general manager. Memorials The week following the crash, officials at the Atlanta Motor Speedway held a moment of silence before both the Busch and Nextel Cup races and lowered the flags to half staff. All the Hendrick Motorsports cars, as well as the No. 0 driven by Ward Burton of Hendrick-affiliated Haas CNC Racing, carried tributes on the hoods for those who were lost the week before. Jimmie Johnson (who won the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race) and the rest of his teammates and crew wore their caps backwards in victory lane as a tribute to Ricky Hendrick, who had a habit of doing the same. Teams who win in Hendrick Motorsports cars continue the tradition to honor Ricky after every race win. At the Hendrick museum in Concord, North Carolina, 300 people showed up for a candlelight vigil in honor of the ten victims. The Randy Dorton Trophy now goes to the winner of the Mahle Engine Builders Challenge. See also List of accidents involving sports teams References External links Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site page 2004 in NASCAR 2004 in Virginia Airliner accidents and incidents involving controlled flight into terrain Airliner accidents and incidents caused by pilot error Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in 2004 Aviation accidents and incidents in Virginia Accidents and incidents involving the Beechcraft Super King Air Aviation accidents and incidents involving professional sports teams Disasters in Virginia History of NASCAR Martinsville, Virginia Patrick County, Virginia October 2004 events in the United States