Small or Private Plane Crashes

Small aircraft are used for different sorts of personal and commercial purposes here in the U.S. However, they are known for being more dangerous than their commercial counterparts.

Why do people even fly on a small plane? Typically, when you fly commercially you are at the mercy of the airlines and have no privacy. By using small planes you can fly to where you want when you want it. The most accident-prone small planes in general aviation tend to be the aircraft built by nonprofessionals. When it comes to maintenance and performance testing, it seems likely that amateurs built and flown aircraft might not get the attention that a commercial plane would.

Small plane accidents can seriously injure or kill passengers and others. Those who survive such accidents are typically left with serious, life-long injuries and damage. This can include:

• Head trauma
• Paralysis
• Major burn injuries
• Emotional trauma

Burn injuries are a particularly common problem due to the explosion of fuel tanks upon impact. The reality is that manufacturers often do not install crash-resistant fuel tanks in their units, despite the fact that such tanks can dramatically decrease the likelihood of death or serious burn injuries.

When you have had your life thrown into chaos as a result of injuries or fatalities from a small plane accident, there are many major needs you may have, including financial ones. One thing that can help is getting just compensation. Our firm is committed to providing the best possible representation to those who have been affected by small plane accidents.

Common Causes of Small Plane Crashes

Small planes crash usually because of an error made by the pilot. This is not surprising when you consider that small plane pilots require much less training than commercial pilots. Even an experienced pilot could still be involved in a crash caused by other issues. For example, small planes have fewer safety devices to assist with system failures. They can be more difficult to fly by using the instrument panel only, and engine failure is catastrophic because they are often single-engine.

In many cases, small plane accidents are the result of faulty parts or improper maintenance on the part of the aircraft's owner. Among the defects that commonly cause small plane accidents are:

• Faulty ice-protection systems, which fail to detect or prevent dangerous ice buildup on wings
• Engine fires, which can down the plane, caused by leaks in airplane exhaust systems
• Engine failure attributable to flooding or starving of engine carburetors
• Problems with the fuel tanks prone to rupturing and catching fire
• Pilot seats which slide backward unexpectedly

Legal claims pursuing compensation for victims of small plane crashes can present challenging litigation problems, including the following:

• Federal law. The General Aviation Revitalization Act and other federal legislation protect aircraft manufacturers from claims based on defects in their products, once those products turn 18 years old. Most planes are older than that. Recent decisions have established that the GARA does not apply to state law liability claims. The chipping away at its precedence over state law claims means that plaintiffs may have an easier time resolving aircraft manufacturer liability cases in their favor in the future.
• Insurance issues. In many cases, many pilots carry liability insurance that does not cover very much. On top of that, general aviation pilots might carry no liability insurance at all. Similarly, aircraft mechanics may also carry limited or no insurance or no insurance. However, liability is not always as straightforward as it may seem. Even when a pilot error is the presumptive cause of a crash, other negligence may have been a contributing factor. By discussing your case with our experienced aviation accident attorney, you may be able to widen the scope of liability.
• The complexity of accidents. Many small planes or private aircraft accidents have multiple causes. However, our investigations can place legal responsibility among the parties involved in the accident. This can significantly improve your chances of getting fair financial compensation. Also, investigating the accident and presenting liability and damages claims can be expensive, running into six figures but we can advance these costs and recover them when we win the case.