NTSB To Investigate Fiery Crash Of Dale Jr.’s Private Plane

MOORESVILLE, NC — The National Transportation Board is investigating the fiery crash of a Mooresville-registered private plane carrying Dale Earnhardt, Jr., his wife, 1-year-old daughter and dog after it crashed at the end of a runway in Tennessee Thursday.

NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his family were on the Cessna Citation when it rolled off the end of the runway and caught on fire after landing at Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Tennessee, according to the FAA. The aircraft was registered under the code N8JR to JRM Air LLC in Mooresville, the homebase of Earnhardt’s race team, JR Motorsports, The Tenneessean reported.

“NTSB is sending two investigators to Elizathton, Tennessee, to begin investigation of today’s runway excursion accident involving a Cessna 680 business jet,” the agency said Aug. 15.

An FAA spokeswoman told Patch that five people were onboard, including two pilots and three passengers. The family’s dog was also on board and got out safely, according to the Tennessean.

"Everyone is safe and has been taken to the hospital for further evaluation," Earnhardt’s sister, Kelley Earnhardt, said. "We have no further information at this time. Thank you for your understanding."

Video from the crash showed thick smoke coming from the scene.

RELATED: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Wife 'Safe' After Tennessee Plane Crash

According to WJHL, Earnhardt Jr. was taken to the hospital following the crash. Injuries on the plane were described as cuts and abrasions, according to ESPN. The athlete texted an ESPN reporter saying that he and his family are OK. Earnhardt Jr. has since been released from the hospital.

Earnhardt, who retains notoriety as one of the sport's most popular drivers, retired as a NASCAR Cup series driver at the end of the 2017 season and is currently a NASCAR analyst for NBC Sports.

"We're incredibly grateful that Dale, his wife Amy, daughter Isla, and the two pilots are safe following today's accident," NBC Sports said in a statement. "After being discharged from the hospital, we communicated with Dale and his team, and we're all in agreement that he should take this weekend off to be with his family. We look forward to having him back in the booth next month at Darlington."

Patch Editor Feroze Dhanoa contributed.