Cocaine Toxicity Blamed In Tampa Plane Crash
A recent report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) asserts the presence of cocaine in the pilot’s system was to blame for the crash that killed himself and his 15 year-old daughter. The tragic crash occurred in March 2014 while the pilot, his daughter, and the daughter’s friend were on their way from Chicago to Clearwater.
Authorities claim impairment from the consumption of cocaine contributed to the pilot’s improper fuel management which led to the single-engine plane losing engine power and making an emergency landing six miles north of St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. The night before the crash, the pilot and his passengers refueled in Nashville, Tennessee, filling the plane with just over 40 gallons of fuel.
Unfortunately for the pilot and young girls, the pilot failed to realize the small plane would burn fuel at approximately ten gallons per hour, leaving them with just around four hours of flight time on their way south. The plane’s cockpit was crushed when the pilot steered the aircraft into power lines on McMullen-Booth Road west of Tampa bay while attempting an emergency landing.
Tampa Bay aviation and airplane accident lawyers
As a law firm that concentrates in the practice are of aviation accidents, The Pendas Law firm is familiar with the causes of these types of accidents. As in this case, aviation accidents are usually the result of pilot error.
Failure to properly conduct pre-flight checklists and safety protocols can have devastating results for pilots, passengers, and innocent bystanders. Commercial air travel is known to be one of the safest and most reliable forms of transportation. The airline industry is stringently regulated by federal authorities, placing an emphasis on safety to the general public.
Unfortunately, private pilots do not have the extensive training and flight hours commercial pilots possess and may not have the sharpened skills necessary to properly plan for and take action in the event of an emergency. Accidents with small planes like the one in the Tampa Bay crash in this tragic story usually involve family or friends, making the incident all the more painful.
Causes of small engine aircraft accidents
Pilot error may not be the only contributing factor in small engine aircraft accidents. Inclement weather, mechanical failures, and air traffic control errors may also lead to catastrophic aircraft accidents. The NTSB investigates all crashes involving aircraft, commercial and recreational, to determine fault.
After a federal investigation, reports may point towards error on the part of the pilot, his or her employer, mechanical crews, or aircraft designers and manufacturers. These reports are especially useful to injury victims and their families wishing to file aircraft accident lawsuits to recover for their damages and hold wrongdoers accountable.
Tampa aircraft accident lawyers
If you or a loved one was hurt in an accident involving an aircraft, you may be able to file an aircraft accident lawsuit to try and make yourself whole again. The lawyers of The Pendas Law Firm are ready to act as advocates for these victims and help get restitution for the undue harm caused by negligence.
For a consultation about your aircraft accident claim, contact The Pendas Law Firm. Our lawyers serve aircraft injury victims and their families in the Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Fort Myers, Tampa, and Jacksonville areas.
