Many people have a fear of flying, and for some, the fear becomes reality. Statistics indicate that accidents while driving to the airport are more likely, but it is still an unfortunate fact that when airplane accidents occur, those onboard are often killed. Tragically, earlier this month, two people died in Southern California after a small aircraft crashed near an airport.
The plane, a Cessna C180, took off from Santa Paula Airport in Ventura County in the weekend evening hours. A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration said that the aircraft rapidly lost engine power after takeoff, and the craft struck a power line. The plane then crashed into a riverbed not far from the airport, located about 12 miles away from Ventura.
Both people on board were killed in the accident. Their bodies were found by local rescue personnel and law enforcement officers who rushed to scour the area for survivors. One victim was found inside the plane and the other nearby. The investigation for the crash is being handled by the National Transportation Safety Board.
While plane accidents are rare, smaller aircraft are subject to a higher accident rate than large passenger planes, in part because they lack the safety mechanisms and resources of commercial airlines. What caused the engine to lose power, in this case, is not yet known, and hopefully, the investigation will be able to unravel the sequence of events that led to the accident.
A number of different factors can cause a plane to crash, and often serious mechanical failure can cause a pilot to lose control. If the accident was caused by a preventable mechanical fault, the victim’s loved ones may want to consider seeking legal advice in order to determine what action, if any, can be taken.
Source: Fox News, “2 Dead as Small Plane Crashes in Ventura County,” 04 July 2011
