Weight and Balance Issues Appear to Be Cause of Tragic Aircraft Accident

Airplane accidents are rare, but when they happen they usually cause serious injuries or death. If you or a loved one has been involved in an airplane accident, you may be entitled to compensation for damages. A lawsuit is not about the money; it’s about justice. It will also assure the industry is held to its responsibility to navigate their craft safely. Unfortunately, litigation in cases like this can take years to settle. It is difficult enough to suffer the loss of a loved one in an airplane accident; the last thing victims should have to worry about is their finances. For victims needing immediate financial relieve, pre-settlement lawsuit funding is a viable option.

Results of the investigation into a July 2013 plane crash in Soldotna, Alaska are expected to be released later this month, but the National Transportation Safety Board has suggested the weight distribution on the plane caused it to stall just 11 seconds after takeoff. They also said the plane was probably slightly overloaded and unbalanced. The de Havilland DHC-3 Otter aircraft operated by Nikiski-based Rediske Air crashed and became engulfed in flames upon takeoff. All ten people on board died – the pilot and two Greenville, S.C., families headed on an overnight trip to Bear Mountain Lodge, about 90 miles southwest of Soldotna. It was the worst aviation accident in Alaska in at least 25 years. Rediske Air is registered to the deceased pilot and his sister.

The two families were to fly in two of Rediske Air’s smaller planes, but the pilot then decided to use the Otter so the group could fly together on one plane. Bear Mountain Lodge’s operator asked Rediske Air to bring groceries and supplies and delivered the goods to the air charter’s base in Nikiski. According to a NTSB, the weight of the passengers and supplies put the plane near its 8,000 pound capacity.

A NTSB weight and balance study suggests that the plane may have been loaded tail heavy. The center of gravity likely was several inches too far to the rear, or aft, of the plane. On takeoff, a center of gravity too far aft could have caused the nose to rise higher than usual and the aircraft to stall. “Think of a teeter totter on a playground,” said Mark Madden, a professor of professional piloting at the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Aviation Technology Division. “A kid far enough back on the board can balance a bigger kid. But if the distance is shortened, the little kid loses that advantage.”

A lawsuit has been filed alleging that the nine passengers died because of negligent actions by Rediske, the company that operated the flight. The suit contends that the pilot was at least partially responsible for the crash because he failed to ensure everything was fully in order before takeoff. While there is no requirement that a charter operator of a single-engine plane document weights of cargo, bags and passengers, ultimately the pilot is responsible for ensuring a plane is not overloaded and that the bags and cargo are properly distributed. The targets of the lawsuit include Rediske Air, Inc., Rediske Family Limited Partnership, the estate of Willy Rediske, and JB Leasing Company LLC.

Families like these will often turn to an experienced lawsuit funding company for the financial assistance to get through a long, legal process and to achieve true justice in their cases. Pre-settlement lawsuit funding can help pay the bills and permit the family to wait out the legal process for a fair and equitable settlement or a trial in the case. Lawsuit funding is easy to apply for and personal financial conditions do not matter. There is no need for a credit check or employment history, no upfront fees or costs, and no monthly payment. At Lawsuit Financial, we look only at the value and quality of the lawsuit for collateral. Once an applicant is approved, the cash advance can be sent by check or wire, within 24-48 hours. More importantly, funding is provided on a non-recourse basis. This means if the case is lost, repayment of the cash advance is completely waived.

Contact Lawsuit Financial today to learn more or to apply for immediate financial relief. We can be reached via our website or by calling 1-877-377-7848.