Kreindler has an unprecedented history of securing record amounts of compensation for the victims and their families of all types of aviation accident cases. Within the specific practice area of private, small airplane, and general aviation accidents, Kreindler is well-versed in the intricacies and nuances of finding the responsible parties following a crash and prosecuting the case to its maximum potential. Kreindler’s general aviation accident litigation experience dates back to the early 1950s.
Kreindler has successfully resolved private plane crash cases involving many manufacturers, including:
Beechcraft
Bombardier
Cessna
Cirrus
Embraer
Pilatus
Piper
Socata
Our success can be linked to our private library, case files, and technical databases representing a litigation resource unmatched by any other law firm in the world. We have successfully won or settled lawsuits against parties that include flight schools, local airports, aircraft maintenance companies, aftermarket component suppliers, and others whose negligence may have played a role in a private or small plane accident.
Bombardier Canadair Challenger Crash in Montrose, CO
We understand that some of the most challenging litigation problems arise in cases involving a private plane crash. As an example, Kreindler achieved a confidential, but successful result for a private plane case involving a Bombardier Challenger 600 airplane in which 3 people were killed in Montrose, Colorado. Kreindler filed the lawsuit in Florida after our investigation revealed that the manufacturer, Bombardier, did not provide proper instructions and warnings to flight crews operating the Challenger aircraft in winter conditions and that the Challenger 600 airfoil was too sensitive to ice contamination.
In addition to our experience with determining technical flaws, we are adept at identifying that issues such as limited insurance coverage can be a big problem in private, small plane, and general aviation crash cases. There have been numerous cases we’ve litigated where the pilot carried more liability insurance on his car than he did on his plane. In fact, general aviation pilots might not carry any liability insurance at all, and some of the aircraft mechanics have carried little or no insurance as well.
Federal legislation such as the General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA) can also be an obstacle in litigating private plane cases in that GARA immunizes aircraft manufacturers from product liability claims related to planes that are more than 18 years old — and unfortunately, most planes currently in service are older than that.
Kreindler’s goal in accidents involving small planes and private aircraft is to recover the maximum amount possible from any defendant who can be held to account in a given case. Many accidents have multiple causes, and our practical ability to place legal responsibility among at-fault defendants can significantly improve our client’s chances of full financial compensation in our general aviation cases.
Kreindler in the Media
Kreindler partners are often featured in TV news segments as well as in print and online news articles relating to aviation accidents, including charter and private plane crashes.
Socata Crash in the Caribbean Sea
In 2014, the Glazers took off in their Socata TBM 900 from the Greater Rochester International Airport and were heading to their vacation home in Naples, Florida when the plane’s cabin lost pressure, depriving the couple of oxygen. Though Larry Glazer, an experienced pilot, had radioed in for help at the first sign of trouble, the Glazers lost consciousness, and the plane eventually ran out of fuel and crashed into the Caribbean Sea. The wrongful death lawsuit complaint “alleges that the plane’s cabin pressurization system was faulty and that some of the companies knew it could malfunction but had neglected to warn the Glazers of the risk or provide protection for them.”
While flying from New York to Florida in Larry and Jane Glazer's brand new Daher-Socata TBM 900, a defect in the plane's pressurization system caused an insidious cabin depressurization that rendered the couple unconscious causing the plane to crash.
More Kreindler General Aviation Accident Cases
The combination of partner knowledge and commitment to our clients is demonstrated in a multitude of significant victories including our work on the midair crash that killed Senator John Heinz and the Ebersol Bombardier Challenger 600 crash.
Our private plane exemplar accident case list includes:
Attorney Justin Green authors the Aviation Law column for the New York Law Journal
It is important to understand the legal issues which may affect your rights and recovery in a general aviation case, including the limitations created by the 1994 General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA), which may be applicable in charter and corporate airplane crash cases involving aircraft that are more than 18 years old. GARA is not an insurmountable defense, and it is in the public interest to hold manufacturers responsible for dangerous products. It is particularly in the public’s interest to bring to light any misrepresentations that a manufacturer made to the FAA.
Call on Our Private Plane Crash Experience
Kreindler is the preeminent aviation accident law firm in the world. Our private plane crash firm partners have served as leading counsel in almost every major commercial aviation disaster litigation since 1950. Our partners include pilots, engineers, and a former aviation maintenance specialist and have successfully handled countless private and charter aircraft accident cases. Kreindler partners are responsible for writing highly acclaimed books, countless articles, and treatises on aviation litigation.
While flying from New York to Florida in Larry and Jane Glazer's brand new Daher-Socata TBM 900, a defect in the plane's pressurization system caused an insidious cabin depressurization that rendered the couple unconscious causing the plane to crash.
