Aviation Accidents

My Fox LA reports that three people were injured after a Boeing 707 tanker airplane slid off the runway and caught fire as it attempted to take off from Point Mugu Naval Air Station in Ventura County, approximately 40 miles from Los Angeles. The plane was carrying over 150,000 pounds of fuel.

According to the article, the aviation accident occurred around 5:25 p.m. Three civilian employees, a navigator, a pilot, and a co-pilot, were onboard the aircraft and escaped with only minor injuries. Details as to how they were able to escape the fire were not immediately available. The plane came to a stop within a few hundred feet of the Pacific Ocean, but an air base spokesperson said fuel did not get into the ocean. The wreckage from the plane burned for over three hours, despite a helicopter dumping water loads multiple times on the airplane.

The aircraft is operated by a Virginia-based company that has a contract with the Navy to offer fuel transport services as well as fleet operations support. It is not known where the airplane was headed at the time of the California aviation crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will conduct an investigation into the cause of the accident.

Whenever someone suffers injuries in a plane crash, the cause of the accident needs to be determined. Was the aircraft designed poorly? Were any defective parts present? Was the proper maintenance performed, and on a regular basis? Did negligence occur on the part of the pilot, air traffic controller, or other airport personnel? Once the at-fault party is determined, injured victims can hold them accountable for their injuries and accident-related losses.

For many years, the Los Angeles plane accident lawyers at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP have helped injured victims obtain the compensation they need to cover hospital bills, rehabilitation, and other medical expenses following a serious airplane crash. Call 1-877-800-1700 to schedule a free consultation today.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a proposal that would require commercial airlines to train flight attendants, flight dispatchers, and pilots together in real-life situations in more sophisticated flight simulators.

It is the largest proposed overhaul of air crew training in many decades, and was prompted after a major crash in New York two years ago was credited to pilot error during a full stall of the aircraft. All 29 people onboard the plane as well as a man in a house below were killed in the aviation accident. It was discovered the pilot had previously failed five key tests of piloting skills but was permitted to retake each test. Despite these failures, the pilot was not selected for special or remedial training.

The proposal would require simulation training for pilots regarding how to recover from a full stall during flight, in addition to requiring remedial training for pilots who have performance insufficiencies, such as failing a proficiency check or test or performing unsatisfactorily during a simulator course or flight training. For the past two years, officials have worked on the proposal to reflect the problems raised by the fatal plane accident in New York, as well as to meet requirements of a law passed by Congress that was created in response to the crash.

Many people are responsible for the safety of an aircraft and those onboard, from air traffic controllers to airport mechanics to pilots and their flight crew. The airline accident attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP represent victims who have been injured in a commercial airplane accident receive the compensation they are entitled to from negligent parties. To learn how we can help you, call 1-877-800-1700 to schedule a free consultation today.

CNN reports that an air traffic controller in Ohio was caught watching a movie while at work on Sunday, April 17.

According to the article, the man was watching a movie on a portable electronic device early in the morning. For over three minutes, the audio from the movie was transmitted over a radio frequency used by the air traffic controller at the Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center. The facility is located in Oberlin, Ohio, and is the sixth busiest regional control center in the U.S.

The issue was brought to air traffic control’s attention by a military aircraft pilot who was using an alternative frequency, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It was reported the man’s supervisor was aware he was watching a movie and did nothing to stop him. Both the air traffic controller and his supervisor have been suspended from their duties while the incident is being investigated. It is against FAA policy to use a portable DVD player and other devices in radar rooms.

This is just the latest incidence of of air traffic controller negligence. Over the past few months, there have been occurrences of controllers who have been asleep or unresponsive while on the job. Incidents have occurred in Knoxville, Tennessee; Seattle, Washington; Miami, Florida; Reno, Nevada; Lubbock, Texas; and Washington, and have prompted the FAA to implement new anti-fatigue rules for air traffic controllers including requiring the presence of more than one controller during overnight shifts.

While there are unfortunately many causes of plane crashes, air traffic controller negligence is one of them. If you have lost a loved one or been injured in an airplane crash in California that you believe was caused by air traffic controller negligence or the wrongful actions of another, contact the Los Angeles plane accident attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP. We can help you recover the compensation you need and deserve from negligent parties. Call 1-877-800-1700 to schedule your free consultation with our lawyers today.

USA Today reports that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced new anti-fatigue rules for air traffic controllers. Since January, six incidents involving air traffic controllers that were asleep or unresponsive while on the job have occurred. However, none of the incidents have resulted in a plane crash.

Under the new rules, air traffic controllers will be granted at least nine hours off between shifts instead of eight hours, the current minimum. They will also not be allowed to switch shifts with another controller unless they have had at least nine hours between shifts. Additionally, FAA managers at facilities supervising air traffic will work more shifts during the early morning and late night to monitor employees during times they are prone to be tired and fall asleep.

These changes are among several ideas recommended earlier this year by the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), the union for air traffic controllers. These changes will address the typical weekly schedule for an air traffic controller in which they compound five shifts into less than four days. For example, during the last day of the week, an air traffic controller may work from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., leave for eight hours, and then come back to work an overnight shift at 10 p.m. Research conducted by the NATCA and the FAA discovered that air traffic controllers have increased alertness when they have more time off before their final overnight shift. However, research also found that the improvement would be most significant if air traffic controllers working overnight were permitted to nap during what are now scheduled breaks, allowing them to remain fully alert during their entire shift. According to the FAA and the NATCA, air traffic controllers are accountable for using their time off to get the sleep they need.

At Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, our Los Angeles airplane accident lawyers have dedicated their practice to assisting families who have lost a loved one in a plane crash that was the result of negligence. From pilots to plane mechanics to air traffic controllers; all have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of passengers aboard an aircraft. Call 1-877-800-1700 to learn how our attorneys can help you today.

KTLA reports that a fiery airplane accident, in which four people were injured, occurred near a shopping mall in Camarillo on Saturday, April 9.

According to the article, the crash occurred at about 1:30 p.m. Witnesses to the crash stated they noticed a fixed-wing single engine Beechcraft Bonanza descending slowly, bursting into flames after it crashed into a storage facility located behind the Camarillo Outlet mall on Las Posas Road and Ventura Boulevard. The storage facility is less than a mile away from the Camarillo Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports that the aircraft was on its final approach to the Camarillo Airport when the plane lost power. It took over 18 fire units to extinguish the fire that began after the airplane crashed into the storage facility. There were four passengers aboard the plane, and the article notes they were able to exit the aircraft on their own before firefighters arrived at the scene of the California aviation accident. Three of the passengers were reported to have suffered minor injuries, while one passenger sustained critical injuries. All were taken to a local hospital, where the severely injured passenger is listed to be in serious condition. Fire units worked through most of the afternoon to clean up the accident site, removing jet fuel and plane parts from the storage facility once the fire was extinguished.

FAA records state the aircraft was manufactured in 1964 and passed inspections recently. At the time the article was written, it was not known what caused the plane to crash.

At Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, our California plane crash lawyers have the resources and skills necessary to conduct a careful and thorough investigation into an airplane accident to identify negligent parties and hold them liable. For many years, we have successfully litigated on behalf of our clients who have been injured seriously or lost a loved one in a plane crash when it is found negligence contributed to the accident. For a free consultation, call 1-877-800-1700 today.

On Friday, April 1, Southwest Flight 812 made an emergency landing in Yuma, AZ, after a large hole in the fuselage of the aircraft opened above the plane’s cabin shortly after it took off from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, reports The Yuma Sun.

Approximately 18 minutes into the flight, the Sacramento-bound plane, a 15-year-old Boeing 737-300, descended from its cruising altitude of 36,000 feet to 11,000 feet in about four and a half minutes after a 5-by-1-foot section of the plane’s fuselage burst open, requiring the passengers aboard to immediately use their oxygen masks. The plane leveled off at 9,000 feet, and landed safely in Yuma at about 4 p.m. There were 118 passengers aboard the flight and none were reportedly injured, although there have been reports that some passengers lost consciousness during the decompression. One flight attendant did suffer a minor injury during the plane’s descent but was able to be treated at the scene.

The incident prompted an immediate investigation of the aircraft by an 11-member team from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and investigators revealed that tiny cracks had been discovered on the aircraft around rivet holes along a joint where two areas of the fuselage skin overlap. The cracks are not apparent to the naked eye, which has prompted air safety officials to question whether new criteria for aircraft inspection for 737s and other aircraft are needed.

Investigators are working to determine how long the cracks had been on the plane’s fuselage, and were extensively looking at the aircraft’s maintenance records. According to officials, the last time the aircraft had undergone heavy maintenance inspections was in March 2010, although several routine maintenance inspections have been performed since then. However, these inspections do not require the entire aircraft to be disassembled, as in heavy maintenance inspections. Officials stated March 2010 is likely the last time anyone had checked the concealed part of the aircraft.

Over the weekend, Southwest canceled about 300 flights on Saturday and another 300 on Sunday. It was expected at least 100 flights would be canceled on Monday as inspectors look at 79 Boeing 737 aircraft.

While airlines have a legal duty to perform regular maintenance to ensure the safety of their aircraft to passengers, airplane manufacturers also have a responsibility to design and create planes that are free of any defects or flaws. The California airline accident attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP have successfully litigated against many large airplane manufacturers when it is discovered negligence contributed to a plane crash and/or a passenger’s injury. To find out how we can help, call 1-877-800-1700.

CNN reports that FBI investigators were diligently working on Tuesday, March 29, to determine the cause of a small hole in the body of a US Airways plane.

According to the article, the hole was discovered on Monday, March 28, when a pilot was checking the aircraft, a Boeing 737 airliner, before a flight. The plane had already flown from Philadelphia into Charlotte and was being readied for another flight. The hole was reported to be the shape and size of a bullet hole, and was located towards the back of the plane above a passenger window. FBI investigators caution it doesn’t necessarily mean someone was shooting at the plane. At the time the article was written, the cause of the hole had not yet been identified.

Once the hole was found, US Airways pulled the aircraft from service and contacted the FBI. The article notes that the FBI has jurisdiction over anything that occurs to a commercial passenger airline when in flight. It is not clear whether the hole was made before or during the previous flight or even while the aircraft was grounded in Charlotte. Investigators as well as the airline have been operating under the assumption that it resulted during flight. The airplane was able to land without difficulty at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport at approximately 4 p.m.

As of Tuesday, March 29, the plane had yet to return to service. The aircraft is able to hold 144 passengers. However, the number of passengers aboard when the hole may have appeared on the plane has not been released.

The responsibility of the upkeep, maintenance, and overall safety of an airplane rests on many shoulders. From airport mechanics to pilots to air traffic controllers, all have a duty to ensure not only the wellbeing of airplane passengers, but those on the ground as well. At Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, our California airline accident lawyers can help injured victims receive compensation from negligent parties following a commercial airplane crash. For decades, our attorneys have successfully litigated many plane accident cases and can help you determine whether you have a viable claim. Call 1-877-800-1700 to learn more.

KTLA reports that three people died after a small aircraft crashed and then caught fire near the Barstow-Daggett Airport in Barstow, CA, on Sunday, March 20.

According to the article, the Cessna 210 plane was traveling from the John Wayne Airport in Orange County to the Henderson Executive Airport in Las Vegas when it crashed at approximately 12:40 p.m. Authorities believe the airplane was attempting to land at the Barstow-Daggett Airport but crashed about a mile east of the airport.

A woman and two children, a boy and a girl, were discovered in the plane’s wreckage. Authorities have not yet released the victims’ names, pending notification of their family. It was reported their bodies were burned beyond identification.

It is not known what caused the airplane to crash, or why it caught fire. The California aviation accident will be investigated by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, along with the National Transportation Safety Board.

Fires can cause a plane accident as well as result from the accident itself. Aviation disasters where a fire is involved increases the risk of passenger injuries or fatalities and also places the lives of those on the ground in danger.

The plane crash lawyers at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP have successfully litigated on behalf of clients who have been seriously injured or lost loved ones in aviation accidents across the United States and internationally. For decades, our attorneys have utilized their extensive resources and skills to investigate aircraft accidents and hold negligent parties responsible. If you believe pilot error, air traffic controller negligence, or a defective airplane part contributed to the plane accident, we will work diligently to obtain compensation for you and your family to cover expenses such as hospital bills, medication, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Call 1-877-800-1700 for a free consultation today.

KTLA reports that a pilot and a passenger needed to make an emergency landing during a training exercise in a Calabasas landfill on Thursday night, March 10. Both aircraft occupants suffered only minor injuries.

According to the article, an air traffic controller at the Van Nuys Airport notified the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) at about 6:18 p.m. to report the plane, a 2001 Piper Cherokee, was readying to make an emergency landing. Officials from the LAPD informed the Malibu/Los Hills police station of the situation. After several minutes, police received a 911 phone call from the pilot telling them he had successfully landed the plane.

The pilot told authorities that he and the passenger had been conducting an aircraft training exercise. The article states the pilot was a 27-year-old male flight instructor and the passenger was a 20-year-old male who had taken off from the Santa Monica Airport and had planned to return there after the exercise.

At the scene, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as well as the National Transportation Bureau (NTB) were attempting to determine the cause of the emergency plane landing. Initial reports indicate the plane experienced engine failure.

At Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, our California aviation accident lawyers have a long history of success in litigating aviation accident cases where negligence was a contributing factor. We have the resources that are needed to conduct a thorough investigation into your accident to conclude whether a defective part, poorly designed aircraft, air traffic controller wrongdoing, or other unlawful actions played a part in your airplane crash. If you have been injured in an aircraft accident and believe it was due to negligence, contact our law office today. Call 1-877-800-1700 so we can get started on your case as soon as possible.

A new government-funded study shows that the drug tests of airline personnel are three times more likely to be positive after an airplane crash or other accident than when drug testing is random, reports Reuters.

The study was conducted by researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, and they analyzed close to 5,000 drug tests taken from airline employees after an accident. The study examined tests from 1995 to 2005, while the job-specific results are only from 2003 to 2005. In the study, an aviation accident was defined as an event that caused severe injuries or over $50,000 in damage. The goal of the study was to see if drug violations by airline employees were associated with their risk of being involved in an aviation accident.

The drug test results from airline employees were compared to results of over a million random drug tests. Specifically, the tests searched for proof of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. The study found that after an aviation accident, 91 employees tested positive for drug use, which is an average of about 18 employees out of every 1,000; compared to random drug testing, which found only 6 out of every 1,000 employees tested positive.

However, the study found that drug use among airline flight crew, including pilots, was scarce, with only about 5 out of every 10,000 crew members testing positive in random tests. After an accident, only 2 out of 436 drug tests of flight crew members, less than 5 out of every 1,000 tests, tested positive for using illicit drugs.

The study notes that compared with other industries, such as the truck industry, illicit drug use among airline personnel is uncommon. In the trucking industry, drug use is estimated to be between 20 and 30 out of every 1,000 employees. In conclusion, the study says that drug use plays a “small role” in aviation accidents in the U.S., and estimates that about 1 out of every 100 accidents can be attributed to illicit drug use.

It is the responsibility of all airline personnel to protect the safety of passengers as well as those on the ground. If it is found that someone’s negligence caused a serious aviation accident, that person and his or her employer may be held legally accountable for the accident, any injuries or death suffered by passengers, and other accident-related losses. If you have been injured in an airplane accident, contact Panish Shea & Boyle LLP today. Our California aviation accident attorneys can help you receive the compensation you entitled to from negligent parties. To learn what legal options are available to you, call 1-877-800-1700.