New York Airplane Crash Lawyers

“Robb & Robb LLC is the premier aviation law firm in the United States.”

Most Successful Aviation Law Firm in the Country

New York Airplane Crash Lawyers

We hold the New York records for aviation jury verdict—$116 million for a single wrongful death—and aviation settlement, $90 million.

New York is a hub of aviation activity, with major airports such as John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International serving millions of travelers annually. Additionally, a broad network of general aviation fields and smaller municipal airstrips exists.

Along with commercial traffic, private aviation, including business jets, charter flights, and personal aircraft, plays a significant role in the region’s transportation landscape. When a private plane or helicopter crash occurs, the consequences can be catastrophic. Families are left with profound loss, complex legal questions, and immediate financial pressures.

Robb & Robb represents New York residents and families in aviation accident claims arising from private aircraft crashes. Our firm focuses on holding responsible parties accountable and pursuing fair compensation for injuries, wrongful deaths, and lifelong impacts arising from aviation tragedies.

Request a free initial consultation, which can be conducted virtually, with a New York airplane crash attorney. Call (877) 749-4999 or complete our online contact form to get started. Available 24/7.

Our Verdicts & Settlements

Record-Setting Results in Airplane Accidents

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Family Heritage, National Impact

Built by family and united in purpose, this nationally recognized aviation law firm is led by Gary and Anita Robb, alongside their son Andrew and his wife Brittany. Decades of focused experience, unmatched results, and fearless advocacy define their work. Together, they have secured landmark verdicts, shaped aviation safety standards, and earned a reputation as the leading authority in complex aviation litigation nationwide.

Stories from the Families We’ve Advocated For

At Robb & Robb, families place their trust in us during the most challenging moments of their lives. We honor that trust with steadfast dedication, combining compassion, clear guidance, and tenacious advocacy. Standing with families affected by aviation accidents, we fight for justice, accountability, and meaningful improvements in safety across the industry.

Aviation accidents require unmatched legal experience. If you or a loved one have been injured due to negligence, contact Robb & Robb online or call (877) 749-4999 to explore your legal options.

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Notable Results in Aviation Crash Litigation

Robb & Robb has a national reputation for achieving significant recoveries in aviation accident cases, including:

$116 million jury verdict – New York record for a single aviation wrongful death.
$90 million settlement – New York record for doors off helicopter flight wrongful death of passenger
$52.5 million recovery on appeal from a $48 million jury verdict in a fatal Twin Otter crash, with substantial awards per victim.
$48 million jury verdict in a wrongful death case involving defective aircraft components.
$27.5 million settlement on behalf of skydivers killed when an engine failed, accompanied by industry changes to maintenance practices.
$26 million settlement in a wrongful death case involving a Cessna 421 crash after takeoff.
$15 million outcomes in multiple crash cases involving complex pilot and operational factors.
$4 million jury verdict representing a high‑profile wrongful death case involving state leadership.

These results demonstrate our ability to pursue complex claims and secure meaningful compensation for families affected by aviation disasters.

The Value of Our Legal Representation in New York

Aviation accident litigation is vastly different from standard personal injury or auto accident claims.

These cases require a deep understanding of unique legal and technical frameworks, including:

Oversight and safety standards. Compliance with all aviation safety standards.
The investigative process. Navigating the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), where government findings are critical but do not officially assign legal liability.
Multi-jurisdictional challenges. Managing interstate and international liability laws for certain flights. Our firm can help you navigate these situations and make sure your rights are fully represented.
Aviation product liability. Identifying defects in specialized components under the General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA), which often shields manufacturers of older aircraft.

In a single incident, liability may be split among multiple sophisticated parties, including pilots, aircraft owners, maintenance providers, and component manufacturers. These entities are backed by aggressive insurance defense teams and nearly unlimited legal resources.

Without a seasoned aviation attorney, you risk losing access to time-sensitive evidence, missing complex filing deadlines, and accepting settlements that do not fully account for your long-term loss.

Why Private Aviation Is Riskier Than Commercial Flight

Data from federal aviation safety tracking highlights the disparity between private and commercial operations. General aviation, which encompasses private planes and helicopters, experiences fatal accidents at a significantly higher rate than scheduled airline services.

According to recent FAA aviation safety reports, the general aviation fatal accident rate has been monitored at approximately 0.68–0.95 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours, a level significantly higher than the commercial airline fatality rates.

The higher risk profile in private aviation is generally attributed to factors such as lighter maintenance standards, limited flight data recording equipment, variable pilot experience, and operations from smaller airports with fewer safety protocols in place.

Common Causes of Private Aircraft Crashes

Private aviation accidents often result from one or more of the following:

Mechanical or structural failure due to design or manufacturing defects
Defective parts, such as engine components or avionics systems
Inadequate or improper maintenance
Fuel management errors, including exhaustion or contamination
Pilot error, including decision‑making under stress or insufficient training
Weather challenges, such as icing and visibility issues
Air traffic control miscommunication or procedural lapses

The above elements frequently interact, and determining causation requires careful analysis of maintenance histories, operational records, and aviation systems.

Common defective equipment can include blades, propellers, oil transfer tubes, instrument avionics such as vacuum pumps and attitude indicators, and misplaced vibration dampers.

Compensation Available in New York Aviation Crash Cases

Victims and families affected by airplane crashes may pursue personal injury or wrongful death compensation for:

Medical expenses and future care needs
Lost income and reduced earning capacity
Pain, suffering, and emotional distress, and pre-impact terror
Wrongful death funeral and burial costs, loss of companionship and support and other related damages

In catastrophic cases, damages reflect not only immediate losses but long‑term financial and personal impacts.

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Robb & Robb in the News

Many cases handled successfully by the Firm’s attorneys have received national and international media attention, including featured stories and broadcasts on ABC News, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, the CBS Evening News, BBC, Good Morning America, NBC’s Today Show, CBS This Morning, U.S. News & World Report, CNN.com, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The National Law Journal, Lawyers Weekly USA, BNA Reporter, Law 360, Business Insider, The Missouri Lawyers Weekly, and The Kansas City Star, the Miami Herald, Las Vegas Review – Journal, as well as numerous news platforms posted and televised around the world.

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Consult a New York Airplane Crash Attorney Today

If you or your family has been affected by a private plane or helicopter crash, you deserve representation that understands both the legal complexity and human impact of aviation disasters.

With over 40 years of experience, Robb & Robb is prepared to evaluate your case, explain your options, and pursue accountability and compensation on your behalf. As a nationally recognized premier private aviation litigation firm, we know how to get optimal results for those impacted by these cases.

Call Robb & Robb or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation at our firm today.

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Unsurpassed Record of Success

We have secured over $2 billion in verdicts and settlements, becoming aviation’s most influential safety advocate. Our record includes the two highest U.S. helicopter crash jury verdicts—$350 million and $116 million—and we are the only firm to recover $100 million or more for a single aviation death or injury in five separate jurisdictions nationwide.
Family Led, Nationally Recognized

Led by two generations of one family – husband and wife Founding Partners Gary C. Robb and Anita Porte Robb, their son and Partner Andrew C. Robb along with his wife, Partner Brittany Sanders Robb, this law firm is nationally recognized as the leader in aviation litigation. Guided by integrity, courage, and accountability, they have become a moral force, driving modern aviation reform and safer skies nationwide.
Leading Authority in Aviation Law
With decades of focused aviation litigation experience, this firm brings unparalleled knowledge to the most complex cases. Founding Partner Gary C. Robb authored the authoritative text on helicopter law, and the firms’ attorneys are widely regarded as the foremost experts in the field. No law firm is better equipped to navigate the technical, regulatory, and legal challenges that aviation cases is demand.