In 2009 a number of dramatic and devastating plane crashes caught media attention. A plane crash in
Clarence Center, New York took the lives of 49 people in the air and one on the ground. A
Montana plane crash in March took the lives of all 17 people on board. And, miraculously, an airplane made an successful crash landing into the
Hudson River in early 2009.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in 2005 there were 1,670 general aviation accidents involving 1,688 aircraft. Of those plane crashes, 321 were fatal, resulting in 563 deaths. This represents a two percent increase in fatal general aviation accidents from 2004 and a one percent increase in total number of fatalities from 2004.
Potential Plane Crash Factors
Statistics claim that it is four times safer to fly in a plane than to drive a car. When an airplane does crash, however, the consequences are often catastrophic. Plane crashes are attributed to mechanical failure,
defective parts,
design flaws,
pilot error, weather influence,
air traffic controller error,
bird strike,
onboard fire, lack of fuel, terrorism, sabotage and other causes.
Personal planes and charter plane operations are becoming more popular as the price of planes becomes more economical and travelers seek convenient alternatives to large commercial flights. However, the safety risks have yet to be measured.
Furthermore, as reported by the Associated Press, the NTSB says that fuel exhaustion—running out of gas—was either a cause of or a factor in 238 small plane crashes in the US in the past five years. In total, 29 people died in
small plane crashes linked to fuel exhaustion. The NTSB also says that from 2004 to 2008 there were 8,016 civilian plane crashes with 2,640 fatalities. In 75 percent of those crashes, pilot error was to blame. Civilian planes do not include commercial or military flights.
If a charter plane operation or a civilian plane has limited insurance, they may not be covered to pay damages incurred in an airplane crash, such as loss of life, loss of income, crippling injuries or traumatic stress.
Plane and Helicopter Crashes
Similar to plane crashes,
helicopter crashes can be horrific. Helicopters are often used for sightseeing tours and for emergency medical services. However, the NTSB has included improved safety in emergency medical services helicopter procedures in its list of "most wanted" transportation safety improvements.
Plane Crash Legal help
If you or a loved one has been involved in an airplane crash, you may qualify for damages or remedies that may be awarded in a possible
airplane crash class action lawsuit. Please click the link below to submit your complaint to a plane crash lawyer who will review your claim at no charge or obligation.
Last updated on Mar-16-10
Hilton Head, SC: Last night a man out jogging along the Palmetto Dunes of Hilton Head, South Carolina, was killed instantly when a small plane in distress plowed into him while attempting an emergency landing. The pilot of the Experimental Lancair IV-P plane, who was flying with a single passenger, reported that the plane was experiencing mechanical difficulties, that the propeller had detached and there was oil on the windshield. [ 
Dallas, TX: In the wake of some high profile plane crashes, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has started cracking down on airplane safety. According to the Dallas Morning News on 3/13/10, the FAA recently proposed fines of $787,500 against American Airlines for improper maintenance of its planes. [ 
Washington, DC: In April 2008 American Airlines allowed one of its commercial aircraft to fly 10 passenger flights, even though mechanics had diagnosed a problem with one of the plane's central air data computers. At the time, the flight crew was led to believe both computers were working properly. The incident, together with similar breakdowns in maintenance, has prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to propose fines totaling $787,500 against American Airlines for maintenance violations. [ 
