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NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE
____________ _________ _________ ______
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of Public Information (609) 882-2000
Capt Al Della Fave - ext. 6514
Lt. Gerald Lewis - ext. 6516
Sgt. Stephen Jones - ext. 6513
Sgt. Julian Castellanos - ext. 6515
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 17, 2008
____________ _________ _________ ______
State Police Fatal Accident Unit Releases Findings on Drag Strip Crash that
Claimed Life of Scott Kalitta
West Trenton, N.J. - The New Jersey State Police has concluded its
investigation of the motor vehicle racing crash that claimed the life of NHRA
Top Fuel Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta. The crash happened on June 21, 2008 at
4:20 p.m. during the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNational drag racing event at Old
Bridge Township Raceway Park.
The NJSP Fatal Accident Investigation Unit has provided the following
description of the crash: Scott Kalitta occupied the right lane in a 1/4-mile
(qualifying) drag race against opponent Tony Bartone and was operating a 2008
Toyota Solara Top Fuel Funny Car. Shortly after the race began, Bartone’s
vehicle experienced an equipment failure and its speed slowed substantially.
Moments later, Kalitta’s vehicle experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure
resulting in a fuel-fired explosion prior to the quarter-mile finish line. Kalitta’
s vehicle crossed the 1/4 mile mark 0.716 seconds later, at a speed of
300.73 MPH. At the time of the explosion, the rear portion of the vehicle’s
fiberglass body separated from the vehicle causing deployment of the damaged
parachute system.
Evidence discovered in Kalitta’s lane revealed that he had applied
mechanical braking and maintained steering control of the vehicle throughout
the 2235-foot-long “shutdown” portion of the racetrack. Post crash examination
of the vehicle further revealed the clutch system to be locked, maintaining
engine power to the rear wheels. Witnesses and audio recordings reveal the
vehicle’s engine firing throughout the shutdown portion of the racetrack, which
further reinforced the fact that the vehicle’s engine was still providing power for
some period of time.
The vehicle continued from the point of engine failure to the end of the
racetrack (approx. 2300') on fire over the course of approximately 7.07 seconds.
Upon reaching the end of the paved racetrack, Kalitta’s vehicle entered a “
run-off” area constructed of pea gravel at a speed of approximately 125 mph
and was positioned near the center of the racetrack’s right lane. As Kalitta’
s racecar entered the “run-off” area, the front of the vehicle appeared to
pitch upward, allowing air under the vehicle’s fiberglass nose resulting in
its separation from the chassis. Over the course of the following .5-second,
the vehicle took flight and traveled toward the right side of the run-off area
and over the western concrete retaining wall Immediately thereafter, the
vehicle impacted a steel post that supported the right side of a cargo net which
was in place to stop race vehicles from passing this area of the racetrack.
This impact was specific to the right side of the vehicle and caused
separation of the right front suspension components and damage to the right side
engine exhaust system. The vehicle continued forward and impacted a piece of
heavy equipment (JLG model 600S telescopic boom lift vehicle with a specified
(dry) weight of 22,750 pounds), which was positioned outside the “run-off”
area by the ESPN television crew. This impact caused catastrophic damage to the
vehicle and additional separation of chassis components and the vehicle’s
engine. Beyond the boom lift vehicle, a Chevrolet van and a Suzuki Ozark ATV,
which were also positioned by ESPN television crew, were damaged by collision
debris. The largest portion of the race vehicle came to rest in a grassy area
250' south of the shutdown area and 153' from the initial pole impact. Scott
Kalitta was contained in this portion of the race vehicle and had sustained
fatal blunt force injuries. A review of information provided by Delphi, which
was recorded by accelerometers, mounted to the Kalitta vehicle revealed
multiple impacts producing over 100G, with some approaching or exceeding 200G. No
information was obtained from the RacePac data recorder installed in the
Kalitta vehicle. Post mortem examination confirmed that Scott Kalitta’s death
was caused by multiple blunt trauma injuries.
The New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit has identified
the following items to be noteworthy or contributory in the occurrence of
this incident:
Engine Failure
The stimulus behind the sequence of events leading to the death of Scott
Kalitta was a massive failure of the vehicle’s engine. Although not uncommon in
Top Fuel drag racing, the exact diagnosis and chronological succession of the
engine failure in this incident was beyond the scope of the State Police
investigation. After post-crash inspection of Kalitta’s vehicle components by
the NJSP, the vehicle was turned over to the NHRA and, ultimately Kalitta
Motorsports.
Fuel Flow Interruption
After failure of the engine in the Kalitta vehicle, a fire ensued which
survived for more than seven seconds, throughout the crash sequence.
Additionally, fuel continued to be fed to the engine, either residually or via remaining
fuel routing from the fuel tank. This engine power handicapped the capability
of the mechanical brake system. Had the driver been rendered unconscious or
temporarily unable to apply mechanical braking after the engine explosion
and parachute failure, the vehicle’s deceleration over the next ½ mile would
have been minimal.
Insufficient Braking
Despite approx. 1832’ of intermittent tire marks to indicate the
functionality of all four brake systems, the vehicle’s speed was reduced slightly over
50% in the last ½ mile of the racetrack. The initial engine explosion and loss
of body components, deployment and minimal expansion of the parachute system
as well as the vehicle’s suspension system and tire pressure and composition
may have contributed to a loss of tire contact, which made braking partially
ineffective. Additionally, the clutch system was found to be locked which
maintained engine power to the rear wheels.
Insufficient Auxiliary Braking (parachute failure)
The vehicle’s parachute system was deployed (but did not blossom) at the
time of the explosion when the rear portion of the vehicle’s fiberglass body
separated. Post crash inspection revealed substantial damage to the parachute
system. This damage included tearing, burning, and tangling assumed to be
caused by the engine explosion, ensuing fire, body separation, and spoilage of air
over the remaining vehicle chassis, and high speed ground contact.
Driver Toxicology
Post mortem toxicological analysis of blood obtained from Scott Kalitta
during his autopsy revealed the presence of Ethanol at a level of 23 mg/dL. This
level converts to a BAC percentage of .02% BAC. This level, 25% of the legal
limit for intoxication in the State of New Jersey, remains in violation of
NHRA rules (Section 1.7, I., B.1.) as well as N.J.S.A. Title 13 Chapter 62 New
Jersey State Motor Vehicle Racetrack Regulations.
Fixed Object Impacts
Upon entering the “run-off” area and impacting the pea gravel, Kalitta’s
race vehicle took flight at a speed of approximately 125 MPH. The vehicle
sailed over the western retaining wall and its right front tire rubbed the
concrete wall before the vehicle impacted the western “catch net” support post.
This (8.5" diameter x 7' high) hollow steel post was protected on its northern
and southern sides by the concrete barrier by its position within the
barrier, but extended above the wall with no attenuation.
After impact with the cargo net support pole, the Kalitta vehicle continued
15' from the pole impact before impacting the cast iron counterbalance
portion of an aerial boom lift vehicle, which was in place to position a remote
television camera over the center of the racetrack. As the impact continued, the
Kalitta vehicle made multiple impacts with this 23,000 lb. vehicle and its
extended boom component.
The New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, as the sole
agency with responsibility to regulate the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Racetrack
Regulations (N.J.S.A. 13:62) has concluded this investigation and has
forwarded all reports to the Office of the Middlesex County Prosecutor for review.
After this review, further safety recommendations will be discussed between
the NJSP, the NHRA, and all three of New Jersey’s licensed 1/4-mile (drag
racing) racetracks.
* All requests for further information into this matter should be made
through The New Jersey State Police Office of Public Information at
609-882-2000.
_________________
Dick MacKenzie
''Life's tough......it's even tougher if you're stupid.'' -- John Wayne
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