Causes of Aviation Accidents

When large airplanes crash, the accident will make front page news across the country. Some of the plane crashes involving airlines can involve hundreds of people. There are, however, many more planes flying that do not involve commercial airliners. Smaller jets and privately owned planes also crash. These crashes rarely make front page headlines. Why? The death toll isn’t likely to be high enough to cause any sort of sensationalism.

When planes crash, which is rare, human error and mechanical failure are the two most common causes. These can be due to piloting errors, faulty equipment, violations of FAA regulations, design or structural problems, flight service negligence, air traffic controller error, third party carrier selection negligence, maintenance or repair negligence, or fueling error. There are other causes as well.

There are regulations produced on the federal and state levels as well as by agencies. The agency most responsible for our air safety is the FAA, or Federal Aviation Administration. These laws govern the activities of most aircraft and are widely considered to be the minimum requirements for air safety. Unfortunately, these regulations are frequently not met. The rules proscribed by the FAA are not always strictly adhered to, as in the case of Southwest Airlines and their lack of inspections of planes.

If you or someone you know has been injured in some sort of aviation accident, whether it be a major airliner or a small commuter jet, contact the Madison aviation injury lawyers of Habush, Habush, & Rottier at 1-800-822-1690 to discuss your case and to determine your legal options.