Anchorage Personal Injury Lawyer - Mass Transit (Airline, Cruise Ship, Train, Bus)

FAA Faulted in 2007 Misty Fjords Fatal Plane Crash

Mike Schneider — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:17:45 GMT

The NTSB has issued a report critical of the FAA's oversight of flightseeing operations by Taquan Air Service. The Ketchikan flight service lost a Beaver on floats, its pilot, and four passengers last summer when bad weather, and the pilot's decision to fly into it, caused the crash 40 miles NE of the Ketchikan airport in Misty Fjords National Monument. The pilot had plenty of experience, but not with Alaska weather and flying conditions. The NTSB, among other recommendations, suggested that cameras be installed in the area frequented by flightseeing tours and that FAA inspectors ride along on tour flights instead of only conducting inspections on the ground.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Schneider

Andrews Missing in Presumed Plane Crash

Mike Schneider — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:51:00 GMT

Deputy Commissioner of Revenue, Brian Andrews, 56, and his son, Brandon, 24, are the subject of an intensive search in areas between Young Lake and Juneau. The Cessna 182 on floats had dropped another son, B.J., off in Juneau. The plan was for Brian Andrews and Brandon to return to Young Lake for the rest of the camping gear. The round trip should have taken 45 minutes. B.J. called authorities after waiting 2 hours. No gear was found at the campsite, so the speculation is that problems arose on the return flight to Juneau. Both men are experienced outdoorsmen, and wore personal floatation devices and had survival gear with them. Hopes are high that they will be found alive and well.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Schneider

Cook Inlet Plane Crash Kills Three

Mike Schneider — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:00:07 GMT

The 60 year old pilot, Thomas Iverson, and his two passengers perished late in the morning of July 12, 2008, when the Cessna floatplane crashed and burned on the West side of Cook Inlet. The crash site was close to the abandoned native village of Kustatan, across Cook Inlet from Nikiski. The passengers' families likely have claims against the pilot's liability insurance, or his estate, if he can be shown to have caused the crash. If a maintenance problem or mechanical defect is shown to have caused the crash, others may be responsible to all on board. The NTSB continues to investigate.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Schneider

Plane Crashes in Alaska: Serious Injury and Death Above U.S. Averages

Internal Administrator — Sat, 17 May 2008 13:11:43 GMT

Fast changing weather, bush landing sites, animals on the runways, and pilot inexperience help make Alaska a very dangerous place to be an aircraft passenger. Pilots die at a rate 100 times the average mortality of U.S. workers. In just the first three months of of 2008 the NTSB investigated 11 crashes that resulted in 7 deaths. Frequently pilots for air taxi operations are overworked and under loved. Informed passengers can check www.asias.faa.gov for information on pilot experience, while www.ntsb.gov provides accident details and information about operator experience. Things are getting better with technological advances. 82 weathercams are in place and another 139 planned. Go to http://akweathercams.faa.gov to get current visuals on potentially dangerous routes. The families of those hurt, and people seriously injured in air accidents should hire a good attorney familiar with Alaska aviation law and the ability to develop and, if necessary, try an aviation crash case.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Internal Administrator

Plane Crashes in Alaska: Serious Injury and Death Above U.S. Averages

Mike Schneider — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:55:50 GMT

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Schneider

Caravan Gear Failure Leads To Minor Injuries

Mike Schneider — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:04:11 GMT

Tuesday, a Grant Aviation medivac flight landed in Bethel, but the nose gear failed before the plane could be safely parked at the airport. Snow conditions on the taxiway may have contributed to the fialure and the NTSB is investigating. A couple of the people on board complained of pain after the incident.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Schneider

FAA Clears Pilot in Fatal Crash

Jane Schneider — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:18:38 GMT

SeaWind Aviation pilot Steve Kamm was recently cleared by the FAA of violating regulations in the August crash that left some passengers dead and seriously injured. But the FAA's very findings, including that the weather was adequate for flight and that the plane was properly equipped, suggest negligent operation as one possible cause of the crash. Those on board, and their families, have valuable claims for their harms and losses, and should retain a good aviation attorney who knows how to investigate and try and aviation case. The NTSB continues its investigation.

For more information on this subject, pleas refer to the section on Mass Transit Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jane Schneider

Kodiak Crash Kills Six

Jane Schneider — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 10:45:05 GMT

Nine passengers and an experienced pilot, Robin Starrett, were on board Servant Air's PA-31 Navajo Chieftain when it crashed into icy waters 50 yards from the Kodiak runway. The pilot encountered unknown problems just after the charter flight departed Kodiak for Homer. Another air taxi operator, Dean Andrew, was on the scene immediately and helped rescue 4 of the survivors, one of whom appeared to have serious injuries. Dead are the pilot, age 50, Stefan F. Basargin, 36, Pavel F. Basargin, 30, Zahary F. Martushev, 25, Iosif F. Martushev, 15, and Andrian Reutov, 22.

All passengers worked in the fishing industry and were from Russion Old Believer villages close to Homer. They were returning home for the Monday celebration of Russian Christmas.

The NTSB is investigating the crash, with its related deaths and serious injuries. All of the passengers/families have claims for injury or death. The damages are great. The extent of Servant Air's insurance coverage is not known. Servant Air's coverage may have to pay if it's maintenance of the plane or its pilot's handling of the in flight emergency played a role in the crash. If some part of the plane failed because of a design or manufacturing defect and caused the crash, a products liability claim could be asserted by the passengers/families against the manufacturer. The family of the pilot could also assert products liability claims, along with worker compensation claims, because of the incident.

In any event, gathering the necessary information, interacting with the NTSB, and investigating the different theories of liability will require the skill and resources of an experienced personal injury attorney who knows how to develop and try an aviation crash case. Those involved should hire an attorney at once. Piper and Servant Air's insurance companies are likely to have attorneys already.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Mass Transit Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jane Schneider

Bethel Plane Crash Leaves One Seriously Injured

Mike Schneider — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:20:13 GMT

An Arctic Circle Air Cessna 208 Caravan crashed after takeoff from Bethel Tuesday morning. The most seriously injured passenger was and Arctic Circle Air employee. The NTSB is investigating. AS 23/30.055 will bar any claim for negligence against the pilot or Arctic Circle that the passenger/employee might otherwise make. But any other non-employee passenger can make such a claim.

They will have to hire an experienced personal injury attorney familiar with plane crash cases, FAA regulations, and the NTSB investigative process. It could be that a product defect in the Caravan is responsible. If that is the case, all on board, including both Arctic Circle Air employees, can make claims. Any claims as a result of the crash have a two year statute of limitations.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Schneider

Helicopter Medivac Crash Leaves No Survivors

Jane Schneider — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:34:23 GMT

Monday, December 3, 2007, a helicopter carrying John Stumpf, flight nurse, Cameron Carter, paramedic, Gaye McDowell, patient, and flown by Lance Brabham went missing less than half way through a 90 minute flight between Cordova and Anchorage. Saturday, Stumpf's body was found with some wreckage along the flight path that would have taken the flight through Portage Pass on its way to Anchorage. Weather and visibility was poor

at the time of the crash. Survivors of the patient, Gaye McDowell, likely have a cause of action for her wrongful death. For the others on board it is more complicated. If they were employed by the exact same company that employed the pilot, their death will result in nothing other than a $5,000 death benefit under the worker's compensation act if they had no dependents. Other workers compensation benefits are available if they had dependents at the time of the crash. It may take an experience personal injury attorney with aviation training to sort out the corporate relationships between the operator, owner, or lessor the the helicopter and those on board.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Mass Transit Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jane Schneider