Nationwide Airplane Crash Attorneys

Highlights of Our Results in Airplane Crash Claims and Lawsuits

Backed by over $2 billion in verdicts and settlements, we’ve cultivated a legacy of record-setting results. Our law firm has been nationally recognized for our outstanding results in aviation-related settlements and verdicts. These include, but are not limited to:

• $52.5 million settlement (on appeal of $48 million jury verdict) for the crash of a Twin Otter aircraft with five fatalities ($10.5 million per victim).
• $48 million jury verdict, including compensatory and punitive damages for wrongful death from the crash of a DeHavilland plane. The jury found that the aftermarket compressor turbine blade manufactured by defendant Doncasters was defective because it substituted a metal alloy that did not meet the engine manufacturer’s specified design criteria.
• $27.5 million settlement on behalf of skydivers killed in a Cessna 206. An in-flight engine failure occurred when an oil transfer tube failed, resulting in a loss of oil supply to the engine. In addition to the cash settlement payment, the defendant, Teledyne, agreed to modify its engine overhaul manuals to include a notification that owners, operators, and repair facilities should inspect the oil transfer tubes.
• $26 million settlement (the largest settlement in a wrongful death suit in North Carolina history) for the wrongful deaths of a prominent North Carolina real estate executive and his wife. The crash of the Cessna 421 occurred just after takeoff, following the pilot's communication to controllers that the plane's right engine had failed. Defendants in the case included Teledyne Continental Motors, RAM Aircraft, Vibratech, and Stevens Aviation.
• $15 million settlement for wrongful death in plane crash. The Pilatus PC-12/47 was returning from a hunting trip when the pilot flew into restricted airspace in weather conditions with limited visibility, leading to an erratic and irregular flight path. The airplane reached 4,700 feet and was climbing quickly before radar contact was lost.
• $15 million settlement for the wrongful death of a Chicago restaurant executive in a Cessna 421B aircraft. The 2009 case alleged that Morgan Stanley, the employer of the pilot, permitted its employees to use private aircraft operated by non-professional pilots for company business. Following the lawsuit, Morgan Stanley changed its policy on flights, ensuring that their employees would never again use their private aircraft to transport Morgan Stanley customers.
• $4 million in representation of former U.S. Senator Jean Carnahan for the plane crash death of her husband, Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan, and their son, in a jury verdict at trial.

Determining the Cause of Private and Chartered Plane Crashes

Aviation accidents rarely stem from a single factor; instead, they are typically the result of a chain of critical failures. While pilot conduct is often the primary focus of an investigation, particularly in general aviation, where pilots may fly less frequently than commercial crews, experience alone is not a guarantee of safety. Even the most seasoned professional pilots can face insurmountable challenges when operating an aircraft.

Key Factors in Aviation Accidents

The investigation into a private or chartered aircraft crash often centers on several recurring hazards:

• Defective design and/or materials. Defects in this category can cause metal fatigue, cracking, and/or in-flight failure of critical components.
• In-flight instrument or avionics failure. Cockpit instruments such as attitude indicators, altimeters, and autopilots can fail in flight without warning, with catastrophic results to pilots and passengers.
• Negligent maintenance or repair. Maintenance records and log books are kept to record an aircraft’s maintenance history, and are an important part of any post-crash investigation.
• Pilot error. A pilot’s failure to exercise due diligence can be a principal or partial cause of a crash.
• Environmental challenges. Small aircraft are significantly more susceptible to adverse weather than large commercial liners. Turbulence, icing, and poor visibility can quickly overwhelm light airframes.
• Operational errors. These include air traffic control (ATC) miscommunications, fuel exhaustion (running out of fuel), strikes with wildlife, or collisions with stationary objects during takeoff and landing.
• Human factors. Beyond basic maneuvers, fatigue, distraction, and inadequate pre-flight risk assessments can compromise safety.

The Danger of Mechanical and Equipment Defects

Some of the most devastating crashes we litigate involve failures that were entirely out of the pilot's control. 

We frequently identify defects in critical components, such as:

• Faulty engine blades 
• Leaking or fractured oil transfer tubes
• Misplaced or failed vibration dampers
• Defective propellers
• Instrument avionics, including vacuum pumps, attitude indicators, and other essential flight deck displays

Our chartered plane crash lawyers provide comprehensive representation for cases involving pilot error, mechanical failure, ATC negligence, and fuel mismanagement. We possess the resources to challenge powerful manufacturers and operators, providing our clients with the answers and compensation they deserve. 

Who Uses Business Jets?

Chartered or private planes may be hired for skydiving, sightseeing, executive and business travel, emergency response, and more. These planes range in size from small two- or four-seat propeller aircraft to larger jets that seat dozens of people. 
One myth about private air travel is that it’s only for the ultra-rich. Actually, many business travelers utilize corporate jets when they require flexibility or the ability to stop at multiple locations along a customized route.

Additionally, chartered or private air travel is sometimes the only means of reaching rural and remote areas. A large majority of chartered jets fly shorter routes where the alternative is either a lengthy, non-direct commercial flight or a long train or bus ride. In such circumstances, chartered jets may sometimes be a cost-effective option, saving a considerable amount of time.

Commercial Plane Crashes

Two major manufacturers produce most of the large commercial civilian aircraft flown today: Boeing in the United States and Airbus in Europe. 
U.S. civil aviation incidents are investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Families involved in air crashes are often astonished to learn that they or their representatives can have no role whatsoever in the crash investigation. 

Compounding this disadvantage of initial inaccessibility is that parties potentially responsible for the crash (who are usually the defendants) are invited by the NTSB to be party participants in the agency’s investigation.

Common Causes of Airplane Crashes

The most common causes of private plane crashes include the following: 

• Defective design and/or materials. Defects in this category can cause metal fatigue, cracking, and/or in-flight failure of critical components.
• In-flight instrument or avionics failure. Cockpit instruments, such as attitude indicators, altimeters, and autopilots, can fail in flight without warning, with catastrophic results to pilots and passengers. 
• Negligent maintenance or repair. Maintenance records and logbooks are kept to record an aircraft’s maintenance history and are a vital part of any post-crash investigation.
• Pilot error. A pilot’s failure to exercise due diligence can be a principal cause of a crash.
• Air traffic control errors. Failure to follow proper air traffic control rules and procedures can lead to disaster.
• In-flight icing. Icing is a contributing or causal factor in numerous fatal aircraft crashes. 
• Fueling errors. Fuel management, such as starvation, exhaustion, or contamination, often results in crashes. 

The Consequences of an Airplane Crash for Victims

In the wake of an airplane crash, you may face: 

• The wrongful death of a loved one
• Life-altering injuries requiring lifelong medical care
• Substantial medical and rehabilitation expenses
• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of income and future earning capacity
• Emotional trauma, grief, and loss of companionship

In many cases, families must navigate these hardships while federal investigations are ongoing and aviation companies take immediate steps to limit their exposure. Early legal involvement is critical to protect evidence and preserve claims.

Our firm conducts independent investigations and prepares every case for trial from the outset. We collaborate with aviation professionals, engineers, and accident investigators to determine the cause of the incident and identify those responsible.

By managing every aspect of the case, we allow families to focus on healing while we pursue accountability.

Compensation Available in Private Airplane Crash Cases

Victims and families may be entitled to significant compensation depending on the circumstances of the crash and the parties involved. 

Recoverable damages may include personal injury and wrongful death damages, depending on the case:

• Medical expenses, including future care and rehabilitation
• Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Pre-impact terror
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of companionship, guidance, and support
• Other wrongful death damages for surviving family members

In some cases, compensation may also address long-term financial losses caused by permanent disabilities or the loss of a primary income earner. Our firm evaluates the full scope of damages to pursue recovery that reflects both immediate and future needs.