Plane Crash at Oroville Airport Causes Two Fatalities
An airplane crash in Oroville with two fatalities was reported near the airport in Northern California on June 2. The crash involved a Beech 19A plane sometime before 1:00 p.m. and was responded to by Cal Fire’s Butte Unit at the Oroville Municipal Airport, where it was discovered that the aircraft had dived into the ground nose-first. Both the pilot and a passenger died in the crash.
Plane Accident Being Investigated to Determine Cause
National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration investigators were called to the scene to determine the cause of the fatal accident. The plane in question was registered to an Oroville man.
Are Light Planes More Dangerous?
Light planes are considerably more dangerous than larger aircraft such as airliners. For example, in 2017, there were 346 deaths in the 1,316 light plane crashes that were reported, according to the NTSB. However, flying in a light plane is much safer than ground travel. Some of the reasons flying in a small airplane can be risky include the much easier certification.
Being licensed to fly a light plane requires passing a written test, plus having logged in 40 hours of flight time as well as having a medical certificate. Flyers who want a sports pilot license must be at least 17 with 20 hours of flight time, five hours of which must be solo. On the other hand, obtaining a commercial pilot’s license requires a minimum of 250 hours of training, and part of that must be in a complex aircraft.
Investigation of Fatal Plane Crash
Local authorities and first responders collaborate with investigators with the FAA and NTSB to determine how an airplane crash occurred. Their investigation focuses on the following areas:
- Videotaping and photographing the crash site preserves evidence of the tragedy.
- An airplane’s debris field and the angle it was struck are plotted.
- Interviews are conducted with witnesses to the accident.
- Recovery and reconstruction of salvageable parts help identify pieces that are missing or damaged.
- An examination of the flight record is performed, including previous trips.
- The black box that records the power settings, instrument readings, and communication with the tower is recovered if the plane is equipped with one. Not all light planes have a black box.
Common Causes of a Plane Crash
There are a number of reasons that a small plane can crash. However, the following are among the most common causes.
- Plane crashes are less likely to be caused by pilot error but they do happen.
- There can be insufficient pilot training, and the flier may not be approved to fly in the current conditions, such as after dark.
- An airplane crash can be caused by a pilot’s medical issues such as a heart attack, diabetes, and other diseases.
- The airplane experienced engine failure. Since many light planes have only one engine, crashes are common. Carburetor icing and lack of fuel are the usual reasons for engine failure.
- It is possible for a plane part to fail, which would result in a system component malfunctioning. If a defect is found that led to the crash, the manufacturer may be held responsible.
- A fatal accident can be caused by poor or improper maintenance. It is possible that the mechanic responsible for maintenance was at fault in these cases.
- A plane crash can be caused by weather conditions like snow, rain, and fog.
Sacramento Airplane Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento airplane accident lawyer. Negligence is a common cause of light airplane crashes. If you were injured or lost a loved one in an airplane accident, you may be able to recover compensation. The deadline to file is two years, however, it is advisable to get started as soon as possible before evidence is misplaced or lost. Call us at (916) 921-6400 or from long-distance at (800) 404-5400. An online form is also available to contact us.
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