Vegas Extreme Adventures Denies History Of Problems After Fatal Flight

Air combat maneuvers are inherently dangerous, even for trained stunt pilots who put in hours of the training and practice required to perform aeronautical acrobatics. Yet, there are companies that offer air-to-air combat flights for anyone wanting to be the “Red Baron” despite little or no flight experience. Are these companies and their pilots taking too many risks and neglecting safety?

Last month, twelve men traveled to Las Vegas for a bachelor party. Nine members of the group were supposed to take part in simulated, air-to-air combat flights on Sky Combat Ace planes with an “instructor” pilot in the back seat of each of the three aircrafts. Sky Combat Ace allows paying customers — even those without any previous flight experience — to fly and control its acrobatic planes. According to the company website, two planes at a time would engage in “air combat” maneuver against each other while the other airplane observed from a safe distance. The Federal Aviation Administration allows anyone to fly a plane as long as there is a licensed pilot alongside to provide instruction.

On the afternoon of April 30, thunderstorms were lurking in the area so the men questioned the company’s refund policy which basically states that customers must go on the flights with the company’s instructor pilots or forfeit their fare money. Rather than lose more than $8,000 due to the non-refund policy, three of the men departed in three of the company’s planes.

Information provided by a company representative revealed that after the simulated air-combat maneuvers, all three aircraft were returning to the airport. When only two planes arrived, the company launched an airplane to conduct a search. The wreckage was discovered a short time later near a hilltop about 12 miles south of the airport, leaving an 800-foot-long path of debris. A 37-year-old company pilot and a 32-year-old customer from Rohnert Park, California, died in the crash of blunt trauma injuries, according to the Clark County coroner’s office.

A representatives of the parent company, Vegas Extreme Adventures, said the company has been providing instructional aerobatic airplane rides to the general public since 2011, and has conducted more than 15,000 incident-free flights during the past five years the business has been in operation. On the contrary, the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board identified multiple safety issues on similar acrobatic flights in the past five years the business has been in operation. None of those cases resulted in injury, though one incident in March 2015 involved the same Sky Combat Ace airplane that crashed April 30.

A preliminary report in this latest incident did not mention a probable cause, but it was noted that visibility was found to be sufficient at the time. There was no flight plan filed. All major parts of the plane were recovered and will be examined for the final accident report, but a probable cause of the crash is expected to take eight months to a year to complete. The FAA is also investigating Sky Combat Ace on legal grounds to see if the company was in compliance with its regulations at the time of the accident.

Lawsuit Financial extends its condolences to the families of these deceased young men.

About Lawsuit Financial

Lawsuit Financial Corporation is a pro-justice lawsuit funding company that seeks to educate plaintiffs and attorneys about lawsuit funding. Our company is an attorney owned and operated full service legal finance company recognized by attorneys nationwide as a preferred choice for legal funding services. Mark Bello, CEO and General Counsel, is recognized as an expert in this field, both as an underwriter of these transactions and as an advocate for appropriate treatment of plaintiffs/clients in this industry and in litigation.

Same Plane, Same Freeway, Different Outcome

A small plane that made headlines when it landed safely on a Southern California freeway 16 years ago crashed on the same stretch of road Saturday, slamming into a car and killing a passenger in the backseat of the vehicle. Five other people were injured, including the pilot and a passenger aboard the plane.

According to witnesses, the single-engine, two-seat Lancair IV plane appeared to be having issues before turning sharply and coming down on Interstate 15, about 50 miles north of San Diego. One man said he didn't hear the plane's engine as it passed overhead.

The driver of the auto had pulled over to synchronize his Bluetooth when the plane crash landed on the freeway, sliding 250 feet and slamming into the back of his Nissan. The impact pushed the rear bumper nearly all the way into the back seat of the vehicle. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said there was no evidence landing gear was deployed; it appears the plane had mechanical problems. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the crash; officials said it is unclear whether there was a black box on the plane.

Interstate 15 is a popular route for flying because there are fewer flight restrictions than along the Interstate 5 corridor, but the fly zone has had its fair share of emergency landings. That same stretch of highway has been the site of several similar incidents in the past, according to CHP Officer Chris Parent. Matt Nokes, a former MLB player and original owner of the Lancair IV, was piloting the plane on its second flight in February 2000 when the engine quit and he safely landed on the busy freeway. According to Nokes, a fuel problem led to that crash, but he never learned what caused the problem. Nokes went on to fly the plane regularly before selling it in 2004. Dennis Hogge, the pilot in the recent crash, is the plane’s registered owner, although FAA records show the plane’s registration had expired.

Did pilot error cause or contribute to the accident? Was there a mechanical problem, known or unknown? Was the aircraft properly maintained and inspected? If investigators determine that this accident resulted from defective equipment or poor maintenance, the owner of the plane, parts manufacturers, and/or inspectors could be held liable.

Aircraft accidents lawsuits can typically take years before a verdict or settlement is reached. Lawsuit Financial understands that when bills pile up, waiting for a fair settlement may be difficult. Accepting a less-than-favorable settlement may appear the best solution to move on as quickly as possible and maintain financial responsibilities. For this reason, pre-settlement litigation funding has become a better alternative to may paying the mortgage, car payments, and other necessary expenses, such as medical expenses and funeral and burial costs.

Litigation funding is money given in advance of an expected settlement or jury verdict; funding is strictly based on the strength and merits of the case. The funding application takes less than five minutes to complete and requires no credit check or employment history, no upfront fees or costs, and not monthly payments. Once a case is approved for funding, the cash advance can be sent by check or wire within 24-48 hours. Most importantly, the money is provided on a non-recourse basis, meaning if the case is lost the repayment is completely waived.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an airplane accident, you may be entitled to compensation for damages. Lawsuit Financial Corporation has more combined litigation and litigation funding experience than any other company in the lawsuit finance marketplace. We work fast to approve your funding application because we know time is of the essence. Contact us today to learn more or to apply for immediate financial relief. We can be reached via our website or by calling 1-877-377-SUIT (7848).

NTSB Preliminary Findings: Air Traffic Controller Sent Pilot to Nonexistent Landing Strip

It is difficult enough to suffer a life changing injury or the death of a loved from an airplane accident; the last thing victims should have to worry about is their finances. For those victims needing money now, a pre-settlement funding is a viable option.

A preliminary report by National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that the pilot killed when his plane crashed at a railroad crossing was directed by an air traffic controller to land on a nonexistent runway.

According to reports, the pilot started experiencing mechanical difficulties shortly after take-off. He radioed the Republic Airport in Farmingdale stating he was having altitude difficulties and needed to take down the Beechcraft C35 plane, but did not think he could make it to Republic. An air traffic controller provided information about a "Bethpage strip," the site of a former airport associated with defense contractor Northrup Grumman. Although the airport was closed, the controller said there was a usable runway still there. The next several transmissions revealed that the pilot could not find the landing strip and was being guided by the controller until all communications ceased. The plane's engine stalled and the aircraft went down striking the railroad crossing signal before bursting into flames. It is a miracle that a passenger survived the crash. The investigation found that the airport closed in 1990 and industrial buildings now occupy the former runway. The pilot is survived by his wife and three sons.

While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continue their investigation, including trying to determine why the pilot lost altitude and the plane stalled, the family of the pilot and the injured passenger may wish to consult an experienced aviation attorney.

Aircraft accidents lawsuits can typically take several years before a verdict or settlement is reached, leaving families struggling to pay mortgage payments, car payments, groceries, tuition and other necessary expenses caused by death or serious injury. Many will turn to an experienced lawsuit funding company for the financial assistance.

At Lawsuit Financial, we look only at the value and quality of the lawsuit for collateral. Therefore, there is no need for a credit check or employment history, no upfront fees or costs, and no monthly payment. 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.

Lawsuit Financial Corporation has more combined litigation and litigation funding experience than any other company in the lawsuit finance marketplace. Contact us for a free, no-obligation analysis of your case or to apply for immediate financial relief.

About Us
Lawsuit Financial Corporation is a leader in the lawsuit funding industry and recognized by attorneys nationwide as a preferred choice for legal funding services. We are dedicated to securing lawsuit cash advances to plaintiffs based on case assessment only. Every case is thoroughly reviewed to ensure the highest probability of being funded. With a streamlined process, our professional staff works to ensure that each request for funding is processed quickly and efficiently, with funding available in as little as 24 hours. Lawsuit Financial prides itself on honest and exceptional customer service. Putting our clients, and their specific funding needs, first is our number one goal.

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.