Stuart Camenson, of Santa Cruz, Died In Watsonville Municipal Airport Mid-Air Plane Crash
WATSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA (August 22, 2022) – A man identified as Stuart Camenson was one of three people who died in a mid-air plane crash at the Watsonville Municipal Airport.
Santa Cruz County officials are saying that the mid-air crash took place around 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. A single-engine Cessna 152 and a twin-engine Cessna 340 were attempting to land at the Watsonville Municipal Airport when they collided.
Stuart Camenson was identified as the pilot of the single-engine Cessna 152 at the time of the crash. The twin-engine Cessna 340 crashed into a hangar after the initial collision.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims. Sadly, Stuart Camenson and two people in the Cessna 340 died in the crash.
The FAA and the NTSB are continuing to investigate the crash.
Liability In Watsonville Plane Crashes
The vast majority of plane crashes that take place occur in private aviation. Commercial aircraft tend to have safety measures and redundancies that smaller aircraft lack. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, “Most aviation deaths in 2020 took place during general aviation operations, where 332 were killed, compared to 414 the year before. The 2020 fatal accident rate in general aviation was 1.049 accidents per 100,000 flight hours, compared to 2019’s rate of 1.064.” There are a number of steps that should be taken in order to prevent plane crashes.
- Aircraft should be properly maintained.
- Pilots should do a pre-flight check before every flight.
- Air traffic controllers should give pilots accurate information.
The majority of plane crashes occur during take-off and landing. Depending on the facts of any case, there could be numerous sources of liability for a plane crash. The federal government could be liable for a plane crash if pilots were given poor instructions from the air traffic control tower. Air traffic control officials must do their best to guide pilots with respect to when and where it is safe to land or take-off.
According to Boeing, around 20% of plane crashes are caused by equipment failure. The company that manufactured a plane could also potentially face civil liability for a plane crash. Plane companies have a legal responsibility to manufacture airplanes that are reasonably safe. They can be liable for the manufacturing, design and marketing defects associated with their products. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any mid-air collision.
- Both planes involved in the crash should be examined.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- All radio communications related to the crash should be reviewed.
- A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.
The family of any person that is killed in a mid-air collision may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, though, it can be difficult to determine exactly what caused a plane crash. This is why it is so important that evidence is properly preserved after any crash.
Investigating A Watsonville Plane Crash
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the families of Stuart Camenson and the two other people killed in this crash. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the FAA. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of all who have lost so much.
Do you need more information about a Watsonville plane crash? Our team of aviation safety experts are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
