RACER ALAN KULWICKI FEARED LOST IN FLAMING PLANE CRASH

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 2, 1993                   TAG: 9304020218
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BLOUNTVILLE, TENN.                                LENGTH: Medium
RACER ALAN KULWICKI FEARED LOST IN FLAMING PLANE CRASH
Stock car driver Alan Kulwicki was aboard a private plane that crashed in flames Thursday night and killed at least four people, officials said.
Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Ann Eldridge in Atlanta said five people were on board the twin-engine turboprop registered to Kulwicki. Four bodies were located within two hours after the crash, she said.
The four were not immediately identified.
Joe Minor of the Bristol Lifesaving Crew said the plane went down behind some houses just off a main highway between Bristol and Blountville. He said the airplane was engulfed in flames.
Emergency management officials said there appeared to be no survivors in the plane and no injuries on the ground.
Kulwicki, 38, of Greenfield, Wis., was defending Winston Cup national champion.
He was flying into the area for a race Sunday at Bristol International Raceway.
Dale Cannon, air traffic manager at the airport, said air traffic controllers lost radio contact with the Merlin turbo prop about 9:30 p.m.
Officials said a flight plan filed in Knoxville, Tenn., 90 miles to the south, indicated that five people were aboard the plane.
Kulwicki had been in Knoxville on Thursday on a promotional visit.
Officials said the plane was one of two on final approach to the Tri-Cities Airport, traveling behind a plane carrying driver Dale Earnhardt.
The plane, capable of carrying up to six passengers, was approaching the airport from the northeast and was about five miles out when contact was lost, officials said.
Tennessee Emergency Management Agency officials in Nashville said they had been notified by Sullivan County sheriff's officers that the plane had crashed. They said there were witnesses on the ground.
Kulwicki had five career Winston Cup victories. His title was the first for a driver-owner in the Winston series since Richard Petty in 1979.
Kulwicki had won two races at the Bristol track during his career.
Keywords:
FATALITY AUTO RACING

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB