One Person Killed, Two Injured in Florida Aviation Accident Near Tampa

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on April 1, 2014

Accident investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board, along with local authorities, are investigating a recent fatal aviation accident that occurred in Clearwater. Officers with the Clearwater Police Department report that the single-engine aircraft crashed in the median of a six-lane street at an undisclosed location of the city, sending burning debris across all six lanes of the roadway. Firefighters from the Clearwater Fire Department responded quickly to the crash and extinguished several small fires.

Police and NTSB investigators report that the accident occurred around 4 a.m. one recent Saturday morning. They say that the crash killed the pilot, a 53-year-old Round Lake, IL, man and injured two 15-year-old female passengers, also from Round Lake. Investigators say that the flight plan filed by the pilot said that the aircraft had taken off in the Chicago area and was expected to land near Tampa. Both female passengers were taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa for treatment for undisclosed injuries. Their condition is unknown.

Investigators have not yet announced why the aircraft crashed, which is not surprising, as many airplane accident investigation often take several weeks to determine the cause. However, the vast majority of accidents are caused by:

• Inadequate aircraft maintenance
• Cargo that is improperly stored and shifts during flight
• Mechanical failure
• Pilot error
• Pilots operating their aircraft under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Air traffic controller negligence
• Structural defects on the aircraft
• Weather conditions

Since airplane accidents often involve several state and federal agencies, victims of aviation accidents need legal representation by an Orlando aviation accident attorney who has many years of experience helping clients with cases heard in state and federal courts. They also need and deserve an attorney who has the resources to build effective cases, which often last for weeks and months before they are resolved. James O. Cunningham is an Orlando personal injury lawyer who has built a proven record of success helping aviation accident victims since 1977. He has represented clients in many different levels of state and federal courts and works hard to provide the best possible outcome for his clients. If you would like to schedule a free consultation, call him today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).

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.