Numerous factors can lead to an aviation accident.

Common Causes of Aviation Accidents

Common causes include:

  • Abrupt, evasive maneuvers that can cause a loss of control, a malfunction, or the failure of a system or component. Hard braking and rapid change of direction to avoid collisions are examples of intentional abrupt maneuvers.
  • Collisions or near-collisions with
  • Collisions with objects during takeoff and landing.
  • External load or external cargo operations.
  • Fuel exhaustion, mismanagement, contamination, wrong fuel, or icing of the carburetor or induction.
  • Fuel tank
  • Ground collisions while taxiing to or from a runway in use.
  • Ground handling accident, like operations handling ramps.
  • Snow, ice, frost, or freezing rain accumulating on aircraft surfaces.
  • Loss of control of the aircraft while on the ground or during flight.
  • Deviation from the intended flight path while in the air.
  • Collision or near-collision with objects or the ground while intentionally flying at low altitude (but not during takeoff or landing).
  • Medical issues of people on the aircraft, including the flight crew.
  • Mid-air collisions of aircraft while in flight.
  • The failure of a system or component of the plane.
  • Wind shear, thunderstorm or other inclement weather. Thunderstorms, terrain, or large buildings can create wind shear, which is a sudden change in the speed and direction of the wind. Wind shear can cause a crash when the plane is close to the ground, such as during takeoff and landing.
  • Damaged or defective cabin safety components including seat belts, load requirements, and cabin exits.
  • Hazardous cargo creating fire, smoke, or fumes.
  • Inadequate communication between crewmembers.
  • Incorrect piloting technique because of the pilot’s inexperience, inadequate training, stress, fatigue, or confusion.
  • Pressurization or decompression Loss of pressurization can cause the aircraft occupants to experience extreme cold and lack of oxygen, leading to loss of consciousness, death, and crashes.
  • Uncontrolled fire or smoke. Toxic gasses in smoke can incapacitate plane occupants and cause death. Heat, fire, and smoke inhalation can have fatal consequences.
  • Structural failure of components of the plane due to exceeding the loading expectations or deterioration of the item or system.

Common Accident Themes

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) places the many causes of aviation accidents into these five categories:

Flawed assumptions about the design, maintenance, or operation of the airplane. If everything goes as assumed, there is a safe outcome, but when a person, feature, or part does not work as expected in a situation, the result can be a disaster.

Human error is the most common cause of aviation accidents. Human error is a person’s mistake that caused or significantly contributed to the accident.

Pre-existing failures. There can be a failure condition that is either active or latent. By itself, the failure condition might not be dangerous, but when one or more other malfunctions happen, the combination of conditions can cause an accident.

Organizational lapses. These situations involve breakdowns in communication or procedures, with the result being an accident. For example, an airline, airport, or air traffic control office can have flawed institutionalized processes that impede the flow of vital information.

Unintended effects. This category addresses situations in which an organization changes a process or institutes an initiative intended to improve something, but the change actually causes unexpected problems that affect safety.

Montero Law Center Can Help with Your Aviation Accident Claim

Whatever the cause of the aviation accident, the Montero Law Center can talk with you to explain your legal rights and your eligibility for compensation. It can take a long time for the government agencies to investigate and determine the official cause of an accident, but you should not wait to talk to an aviation accident lawyer. We can help you look into the accident and work to determine the parties you may be able to sue for your aviation accident.

You only have a short amount of time to file a lawsuit, and if you miss that deadline, you could lose your right to compensation. Call the Montero Law Center today at 954-767-6500 for a free consultation.