Nationwide Airplane Crash Attorneys

Highlights of Our Results in Airplane Crash Claims & Lawsuits

These results include:

• $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 a wrongful death caused by a 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 jury verdict while representing former U.S. Senator Jean Carnahan in the airplane crash deaths of her husband, Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan, and their son.

Past results don’t predict the outcome of another case, and every aviation claim depends on its evidence and legal circumstances.

Determining the Cause of Private & 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. Our investigation looks beyond the immediate event to examine the earlier decisions, maintenance histories, and system failures that allowed a risk to develop in the first place.

The investigation into a private, chartered, or corporate 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, including faulty engine blades, leaking or fractured oil transfer tubes, misplaced or failed vibration dampers, defective propellers, and instrument avionics, including vacuum pumps, attitude indicators, and other essential flight deck displays.
• In-flight instrument or avionics failure. Cockpit instruments such as attitude indicators, altimeters, and autopilots can fail in flight without warning, with catastrophic consequences for pilots and passengers.
• Negligent maintenance or repair. Maintenance records and logbooks 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. In Nevada, desert heat, terrain, and wind can add to those performance demands.
• Operational errors. These include air traffic control (ATC) miscommunications, fuel exhaustion, 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.

Who Uses Business Jets & Charter Aircraft?

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. Many business travelers utilize corporate jets when they require flexibility or the ability to stop at multiple locations along a customized route. In a charter or corporate-flight crash, the legal questions can differ significantly depending on who owned the aircraft, who operated it, who maintained it, and what safety decisions were made before departure.

Chartered or private air travel is also sometimes the only means of reaching rural and remote areas. Many chartered jets fly shorter routes where the alternative is either a lengthy, non-direct commercial flight or a long train or bus ride. For these routes, chartered jets may be cost-effective and save considerable time.

Commercial Plane Crashes

U.S. civil aviation incidents are investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB’s investigation is a separate process from any civil lawsuit a family may bring. The NTSB determines which organizations participate, so families and their representatives don’t control the agency’s process.

The NTSB may designate aircraft owners, operators, manufacturers, and others as parties to its investigation, including entities that could later become defendants in civil litigation. We conduct our own independent investigation in parallel, evaluating evidence, potential defendants, and litigation strategy without waiting for an official determination.

Nevada Aviation Claims & Las Vegas Crash Context

Clark County’s airport system includes facilities serving private, charter, and corporate aircraft. Harry Reid International Airport accommodates general aviation alongside commercial operations, and regional facilities including North Las Vegas Airport and Henderson Executive Airport serve a range of non-scheduled flights. Desert heat, high-elevation terrain, wind, and visibility conditions in Nevada can each affect aircraft performance and create specific investigative considerations for flights in the region.

We represent aviation clients nationwide and serve Las Vegas and Nevada families through virtual consultations. Our documented results include a $100 million settlement identified as a Nevada record for a single wrongful death. Nevada personal injury and wrongful death claims carry their own filing deadlines and legal requirements, and the applicable rules can vary depending on the circumstances of a crash. We encourage Las Vegas families to seek case-specific legal advice promptly to protect their claims and preserve critical evidence.

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 potential defendants begin protecting their interests. Early legal involvement can help protect evidence and preserve claims.

Compensation in Private, Charter, & Corporate Aircraft Crash Cases

Victims and families may be entitled to compensation depending on the circumstances of the crash and the parties involved. The recoverable categories can differ between a personal-injury claim and a wrongful-death claim, and available damages depend on the facts, applicable law, and the claimant’s relationship to the person injured or killed.

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.