Ground Victim Files Lawsuit Against Cessna Owner Following Plane Crash

Compton, CAImagine you were sitting at home one day, going about your business as usual when you suddenly found yourself involved in a plane crash. It may sound absurd, but the truth is, it happens. Planes do crash into people's homes—as far too many people already know—causing damage not only to the property but also to the people inside.

Three people have filed a lawsuit against the pilot and owner of a plane, following a 2008 plane crash in which the plane crashed into the house they were in. The plane crash also injured the pilot and a passenger. Named in the lawsuit are Charles Reece, the pilot, and Eureka International, Inc., the owner of the Cessna.

According to the national aviation disaster law firm involved in the lawsuit, Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman, on April 12, 2008, a Cessna 310Q, on approach to the Compton Airport, suffered a loss of engine power. The plane was headed to Hawthorne Airport when it attempted to make an emergency landing at Compton. The pilot attempted a forced landing, during which the plane crashed into the victims' home.

One of the victims, Regina Hosley-Wright, was in her kitchen during the crash. The force of the plane crash pushed her out of her home and onto her neighbor's front lawn, where she was buried by debris. Hosley-Wright's boyfriend was also in the kitchen at the time of the crash. Both suffered serious injuries. Meanwhile, Hosley-Wright's daughter was in the house when the crash occurred, but was able to get out of the house.

Despite surviving the crash, all 3 victims say they have suffered physical and/or emotional trauma. Obviously, there is physical trauma involved in a plane crash, but the emotional trauma is also completely understandable. After all, the 3 were probably going about their day as usual, at home and thinking that nothing was wrong. Imagine the shock of being at your house and suddenly having a plane crash into it. That kind of thing can scar a person for life. How do you ever feel safe in your home again? How do you live with the knowledge that at any time a plane could crash into your house?

The lawsuit against Reece and Eureka seeks unspecified damages. "My clients want accountability," said attorney John Greaves. "Planes aren't supposed to crash into houses. This pilot and company need to take care of the people injured on the ground." The NTSB has not yet issued a probable cause report regarding this plane crash.

The lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, South Central District, Compton Branch. For more information on this lawsuit, visit Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman.