Melbourne Couple Killed in Florida Aviation Accident

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on July 21, 2011

A couple from Melbourne has died from injuries suffered in a plane crash on the afternoon of July 23. Accident investigators say the couple and a 20-year-old passenger were flying in a Cirrus single-engine aircraft owned by the pilot and his wife. The plane went down in an undeveloped region of southwestern Palm Bay known as the “The Compound.” The 65-year-old pilot and his 50-year-old wife were taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne after the 12:30 p.m. crash but died from their injuries some hours later.

Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials say the couple was flying from Tampa Bay to Valkaria Airport when the plane went down in a grassy field about nine miles from the airstrip. The field is located around one mile south of J.A. Bombardier Boulevard. A NTSB spokesman did not yet know why the plane went down short of the airstrip but said that accident investigators expected to file a preliminary report in the near future.

“NTSB is currently conducting witness and victim interviews. They are also conducting their crash scene investigation measurements and developing other pertinent information,” he said.

In many cases where a small plane crashes, the cause is pilot error combined with unfavorable weather conditions. It is not yet known if pilot error and bad weather were contributing factors in this aviation accident, but many crashes are also caused by poor aircraft maintenance, faulty replacement parts or an improperly installed piece of equipment. When accident investigators find that a third party was responsible for a plane crash, they can often be held liable for damages by anyone injured in the crash or the survivors of those killed.

When someone’s negligence leads to an aviation accident involving injuries and death, it is in the best interests of injured people and their dependents to contact an experienced Orlando personal injury lawyer such as James O. Cunningham. Mr. Cunningham has a proven record of success in these matters dating back to the beginning of his law practice in 1977. He offers free consultations and handles each aspect of his clients’ cases personally. Call 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 today to schedule your free consultation.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.