New Jersey Injury Lawyer Blog

Three people injured in a Virginia plane crash settled claims for $3 million on March 16, bringing to $10 million the total paid in the case. The plane was en route from North Carolina's Outer Banks to Ocean County when it crashed in a field in Nassawadox, Virginia on April 28, 2000.

The pilot's attorney blamed the crash on engine failure. The plane had been recalled to test for crankshaft cracks, and faulty instructions caused improper reassembly of the engine. Teledyne Continental Motors, the Mobile, Alabama based engine manufacturer, blamed the crash on pilot error and maintenance failures. The settlement pays $1.5 million to John Carey of Dover, Delaware who fractured his ankle; $750,000 to Jane Savastano of Hawthorne, who fractured her spine and ankle; and $750,000 to pilot Jack Pizzolato, of Toms River, who broke his back, neck, and right leg.

A fourth person, Wayne King of Manahawkin, who was left partially paralyzed, settled for $7 million. Of the $10 million settlement, Teledyne will pay $4.75 million; Ocean Aire Inc in Toms River, which performed the recall testing, $3 million; Pizzolato, $2 million; and Lakewood Aircraft Services in Wall, which did an annual inspection after the recall, $250,000.

(This information was obtained from the New Jersey Law Journal)

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Posted In: Airplane Accident

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A Manahawkin man will receive $7 million as compensation for injuries he received when injured in a plane crash. The parties agreed to the settlement last Wednesday. Wayne King was a passenger in a single engine Beechcraft that crashed on April 28, 2000 during a flight from North Carolina to New Jersey. Due to injuries, he is paralyzed from the midchest down.

The plane crashed after the engine blew apart, possibility due to lack of oil to the piston cylinder. The engine manufacturer, Teledyne Continental Motors Inc., had issued a recall, and Ocean Aire Inc., of Toms River, had performed maintenance work. Fried says that Teledyne's instructions for maintenance were either incomplete or were not followed.

Another theory for the explosion was that exhaust was not properly vented and was diverted back into the engine, causing oil dissipation and drying out, but since the engine blew up, it was not possible to determine the exact cause. Friend also alleged that the pilot, Jack Pizzlato, did not perform preflight checks adequate to ensure that the plane was safe.

(This information was obtained from the New Jersey Law Journal)

Posted by Richard Console | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Airplane Accident

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Survivors of a 39 year old Toms River man killed in a midair collision over Burlington Township settled a wrongful death suit on Jan 27 for $581,000. Angelos George, a US Navy civilian engineering program manager was one of 11 people killed on Aug 8 2000, when the Piper Navajo he was riding in collided with a Piper Seminole flown by a student pilot and an instructor.

The National Transportation Safety Board found each pilot at fault for not seeing the other plane.

(This information was obtained from the New Jersey Law Journal)

Posted by Richard Console | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Airplane Accident

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