Plane Crashes Preventable

Seattle, WAIt seems that not a day goes by without news of a tragic plane crash. Most of them involve small planes, carrying fewer than five people, but they also involve family members who are left devastated by the loss of a loved one. Unfortunately, many plane crashes are preventable, making them that much more tragic.

Usually it is the large plane crashes—the ones involving massive planes and hundreds of people—that make the national news. Rarely do people read about small plane crashes, unless those crashes involve someone newsworthy. However, even though their stories are not often carried in the national news, small planes do crash and the results of the crashes are usually tragic.

In one such plane crash, a family of five was killed when their plane crashed near Santa Rosa, New Mexico, on June 29, 2008. Witnesses report that the plane struggled during takeoff, reversed course shortly after takeoff and then nose-dived into the desert. A rupture of the plane's fuel tanks caused an explosion after it crashed.

In another small plane crash, three people died in a single-engine plane crash that resulted in a fire that burned up to two acres. The plane was badly charred in the crash, which occurred just after take off from a private grass strip. The victims of the crash were the pilot, his wife and their son.

Sometimes, passengers are lucky enough to emerge from an airplane ordeal uninjured, but that does not mean they did not face very scary moments. Just ask passengers on Delta Flight 989 from Lambert Airport. Moments after takeoff, a piece of the plane fell off and landed on the highway below. Passengers say they did not know what fell off the plane, but the plane began shaking and the engine was not working. In fact, it was a panel from the plane's right engine that fell off. The pilot made a successful emergency landing with one engine but passengers faced some tense moments wondering if they would land safely.

Six people who were involved in a plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico in June are also lucky to be alive. The plane crashed into the Gulf on its way back from a day trip to Key West. According to Marco News the pilot did not check the fuel tanks and did not give passengers information on emergency procedures before the plane took off. The plane lost all power and was landed in the water. Two passengers suffered serious injuries in the crash.

The plane was later recovered from the bottom of the Gulf and found to have 14 ounces of fuel in the left tank, no fuel in the right tank and only residual fuel in the fuel lines.

If a plane crash was caused by negligence, poor judgment or violation of safety laws, those affected by the crash may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the party or parties responsible. If you or a loved one was harmed by a plane crash, contact a lawyer to discuss your legal options.