Category: Aviation

Hiring an airplane accident attorney is critical if you’re involved in an airplane accident. We understand the experience can be extremely stressful and even traumatizing. After surviving an ordeal like that, the last thing on your mind might be hiring an  attorney, but it can be necessary to work with a professional familiar with aviation…

Aviation accidents occur more than most people realize. When you get on an airplane, you put your life in the hands of the pilot, the airline, and the airplane manufacturer. You trust that the pilot will do his or her job correctly to get you to your destination safely, and you trust that the plane…

In an effort to make the causes of aviation accidents less of a mystery, the black box was created. The black box – which, despite its name, is actually orange in color – is a data recording device that stores information about the aircraft and parameters of the flight. It is designed to be almost…

Aviation accidents do not happen often. When an aviation accident does take place, many different federal and state organizations may become part of the accident investigation. An investigation serves several key purposes, including identifying the cause of the aviation accident, determining liability, and improving aircraft safety for the future. Learning who investigates general aviation accidents…

If you get injured or a loved one dies in an aviation accident in Arizona, it is imperative to act quickly to bring a legal cause of action. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your life-changing injuries and past and future losses. If you wait too long, you can miss the statute of…

Not all aviation lawyers are created equal. Aviation accidents can lead to incredibly complex cases, and victims often have a lot at stake. It is imperative to thoroughly vet your choices for aviation attorneys in Phoenix to choose the right one for your case. Ask these five questions before retaining an aviation lawyer, so that…

Insurance coverage for airplane accidents can vary widely. First, liability insurance is just one part of an aircraft policy. The other parts insure the value of the aircraft for damage and perhaps medical expenses. Liability insurance is triggered when the insured policy holder could be legally responsible for an injury or death caused by a…

On May 2, 2020 there was a fatal airplane accident near Zelmer Memorial Airport in Illinois. The FAA is investigating the crash of a single engine two-seat 1996 Yakoviev Yak-52 airplane that killed the pilot. The accident airplane was a 1987 Russian-built Yakovlev Yak-52, a single-engine, low-wing, two-place tandem cockpit airplane. The Yak-52 was designed…

An aircraft in distress has the right-of-way over all other air traffic. When aircraft of the same category are converging at approximately the same altitude (except head-on, or nearly so), the aircraft to the other’s right has the right-of-way. If the aircraft are of different categories: A balloon has the right-of-way over any other category…

The acronym ARROW helps pilots remember the paperwork to be kept in a plane at all times: Airworthiness Certificate – this is the airworthiness certificate provided after the aircraft is inspected by an FAA-approved vendor. This document ensures the safety and condition of the plane before it takes-off; Registration Certificate – this is the registration…

How much baggage weighs is very important in pre-flight planning, but so is proper loading. Improper loading can severely impede an airplane’s performance and maneuverability. The load must also be secure. If the load moves to the aft of the plane, the center of gravity moves aft as well. This will decrease the stability of…

Pilots must heed warnings signals to avoid tragedy. For example: Is the pilot under pressure unduly influencing his deceive to fly? Will the pilot have to stretch the fuel reserves to the limit? Does the pilot have a plan B? Does the pilot and respect the limits of his or her own skills and experience?

Mid-air collisions are rare, but deadly. Pilots are responsible to “see and avoid” other aircraft. This isn’t just a slogan, it is the law. FAR 91.113(b) states: “When weather conditions permit, regardless of whether an operation is conducted under instrument flight rules or visual flight rules, vigilance shall be maintained by each person operating an…

In May 2019, the crew of a chartered Cessna Citation 550—being operated as an air ambulance flight—experienced a total power loss that began just over an hour into the flight. With a tremendous amount of skill, and with nurses and patients on board, the pilots performed a successful no-engine landing. The failure was later traced…

Weather is a cause or contributing factor to a number of plane and helicopter crashes. Weather is constantly in flux and even though pilots may focus on pre-flight planning including weather, they must monitor weather forecasts during the flight and make changes when and if necessary. General aviation pilots should always plan an alternative course…