Pilot Losing Control of Airplane Results in General Aviation Lawsuit

Case Title: Smith v. Nature Air

On December 16, 2005, a Nature Air flight, a twin-engine de Havilland DHC-6-300, TI-AZQ, crashed on final approach to the Tamarindo Airport in the Costa Rican province Guanacaste. It lost control and impacted with trees just short of the airport. The pilot and two passengers suffered serious injuries on that flight, and the first officer and four passengers had minor injuries, federal records show. The plane rested in the fallen trees, and passengers helped pull the pilot and co-pilot out of the wreckage. Aviation fuel poured out from near the emergency exit. Those on board the airplane had to walk through the jungle to get to a road ambulances could access. The probable cause of the crash was that the pilot lost control of the airplane on approach, perhaps due to crosswinds. Slack Davis Sanger represented a passenger on the plane who suffered facial lacerations, back injuries, and broken ribs. Ladd Sanger negotiated a settlement with the Costa Rican airline for their negligence toward the client.

Mike Slack has been practicing law for over 36 years and has litigated hundreds of lawsuits. His experience as a licensed pilot and former NASA aerospace engineer gives him unique insight into aviation accident lawsuits.