On Friday, June 7, a King Air 200 crashed in Baker, Louisiana, killing the 71-year-old pilot. According to the local coroner, the pilot died from fire and inhalational injuries, as well as from blunt force trauma. The pilot was en route to McComb, Mississippi from Baton Rouge, Louisiana; however, the crash occurred shortly after take-off.
The plane crashed into a residential area in Baker, but no one was injured on the ground. There was significant damage to three houses. According to investigators, the plane first hit a home on Rue Nicole, causing two large holes in the roof. After striking a tree, it crashed into the back side of two homes on Rue Jennifer.
The plane and the homes on Rue Jennifer were immediately engulfed in flames, although the assistant fire chief in Baker said he was surprised there was no fire at the first house that was hit. The attic and the roof of the house on Rue Nicole were covered in aviation fuel.
Neither of the homes on Rue Jennifer had anyone inside when the airplane accident occurred; however, a woman was home on Rue Nicole when the plane hit. She managed to get out of the home safely.
Fire engines from Baker, Baton Rouge, Brownsfield and three other fire departments responded to the crash site. In addition, the Louisiana State Police, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s deputies, Metro Airport police and officers from nearby Zachary responded to assisted the Baker’s Police Department.
The flight data recorder was recovered by the National Transportation Safety Board salvage team on Sunday. The wreckage was removed to be examined by NTSB air safety investigators to determine the cause of the plane crash.
Should the NTSB determine there was a defect in the plane or one of its parts, the family of the pilot could file a wrongful death lawsuit against the plane manufacturer. The owners of the homes that were damaged could have claims for property damage. Contacting an experienced aviation accident attorney is the best way to understand the claims that may be filed in civil court.
Source: theadvocate.com, “NTSB investigating plane crash in Baker” James Minton, Jun. 10, 2013
