Hurt in an Accident Involving Private Aviation or Small Aircraft?

Air travel is usually safe, but that safety only comes from a lot of people and parts coming together perfectly. Airplanes have thousands of moving parts that must be manufactured to precise standards of quality. And a good maintenance program is critically important in keeping those parts working as intended. In addition, the aircrew is required by law to follow a thorough maintenance checklist before every flight. If even one of these steps is not followed properly, the results can be tragic.

Flying also requires attention and skill. Pilots can spend hundreds of hours in education and training to become licensed, especially if they want to fly commercially. But pilots are human beings, and they can make errors or, worse, behave irresponsibly. When something goes wrong during a flight, the crew must be able to respond quickly and correctly – so if a pilot does not pay attention, or flies while incapacitated, tragedy can occur in an instant.

Common Causes of Aviation and Aircraft Accidents:

• Pilot Error
• Negligent Maintenance
• Aircraft Systems Failure
• Manufacturing Defects
• Air Traffic Controller Negligence

Common causes of plane crashes include pilot error, pilot intoxication, inadequate maintenance, and defective parts. Pilots, airplane mechanics, airlines, and the manufacturers of commercial aircraft are all responsible for ensuring that airplanes are safe. If any one of them have been lax in their responsibilities, they are responsible for any accident that occurs as a result.

Commercial Aviation Accidents

Commercial aviation is the term used to describe any kind of flight for hire. Whether it is one person on a sightseeing flight or a massive international airliner, if someone pays to fly, it is a commercial flight. While rare, commercial aviation accidents are usually serious and often result in death or critical injury.

Private Aircraft Accidents in Texas

Texas is one of the leading states in the nation for private ownership of airplanes and the number of miles traveled by private aircraft every year. And due to the sheer size of the state, flying is very common for business or personal travel. While commercial aircraft are supported by large maintenance and aircrews, a privately owned aircraft might only have one or two people keeping it airworthy. Usually, owners of private planes contract with mechanics or maintenance firms to keep up their planes. 

Every year, a number of small airplane and helicopter crashes lead to serious injuries and deaths. Often, the crashes are the result of errors by commercially licensed pilots, or of failures due to improper maintenance by contracted mechanics. Just as with their commercial cousins, those who fly and maintain private aircraft are responsible for what happens in an accident.

What to do Next

If you or a loved one have been involved in an aviation or small aircraft accident, it is important to get started on the case as quickly as possible. Contact Tinsman & Sciano for help with your case.