Representing Victims of Commercial, Private, and Charter Plane Crashes
A Texas airplane accident lawyer represents passengers, pilots, crew, and surviving family members in civil claims after fixed-wing aircraft crashes. These cases require deep technical knowledge, federal regulatory expertise, and the resources to take on commercial airlines, private operators, and aircraft manufacturers.
The Amaro Law Firm has the experience to investigate complex airplane crashes, identify every liable party, and pursue the compensation injured victims and grieving families deserve.
Call 1-866-445-5645 or request a free case review — your consultation is confidential and free.
This page focuses specifically on fixed-wing airplane crashes. For helicopter crashes, see our helicopter accident page. For an overview of all aviation cases, visit our aviation accident hub.
What Counts as an Airplane Accident?
An airplane accident is any crash, collision, or in-flight incident involving a fixed-wing aircraft that causes injury, death, or property damage. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) categorizes airplanes into different operational classes, and the rules that apply depend on the category.
The main airplane categories involved in Texas crashes include:
- Commercial airliners — operated under FAA Part 121 (scheduled service like American, Southwest, United)
- Charter and on-demand flights — operated under Part 135 (charter operators, air taxis, fractional ownership)
- Private aircraft — operated under Part 91 (personally owned planes, business aircraft, recreational flying)
- Corporate jets — typically Part 91 or Part 135 depending on use
- Agricultural aircraft — crop dusters operating under Part 137
- Cargo aircraft — freight operators under Part 121 or 135
Each category has different safety standards, training requirements, and insurance obligations. A pilot’s certification, the operator’s certificate, and the aircraft’s category all affect who can be held liable after a crash.
What Causes Most Airplane Crashes?
Most airplane crashes have more than one cause. Identifying every contributing factor is what separates a successful case from a missed opportunity for full recovery.
Pilot error causes nearly 50% of aviation accidents. Common pilot errors include misreading instruments, miscommunicating with air traffic control, failing to follow checklists, and continuing flight into deteriorating weather.
Mechanical failure accounts for a large share of crashes. Engine failures, landing gear malfunctions, fuel system problems, and avionics failures often trace back to defective parts, skipped maintenance, or improper repairs.
Improper maintenance affects both commercial and private aircraft. Missed inspections, incorrect repairs, and falsified maintenance records have caused numerous fatal crashes.
Design and manufacturing defects involve flaws in the aircraft itself — defective fuel systems, faulty pressure transducers, structural weaknesses, or flawed software. Boeing, Cessna, Piper, and other manufacturers have all faced product liability claims for design defects.
Air traffic control errors include miscommunication, failure to maintain aircraft separation, and runway incursion mistakes.
Adverse weather is rarely the sole cause but often combines with pilot error or mechanical issues to produce a fatal outcome.
Fuel exhaustion or contamination occurs more often than people realize, especially in general aviation crashes.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Texas Airplane Crash?
Liability in airplane crash cases is rarely simple. Multiple parties usually share responsibility, and identifying every one is essential to maximizing recovery.
Potentially liable parties include:
- Pilots — for errors in operation, judgment, or decision-making
- Airlines and charter operators — for negligent hiring, training, scheduling, or supervision
- Aircraft manufacturers — Boeing, Airbus, Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, and others — for design or manufacturing defects
- Component manufacturers — engine makers, avionics companies, parts suppliers
- Maintenance and repair companies — for improper work or skipped inspections
- Fuel providers — for contaminated or mislabeled fuel
- Air traffic controllers and the FAA — for negligent communication or guidance (claims against federal employees fall under the Federal Tort Claims Act)
- Airport operators — for runway conditions, lighting, or ground safety failures
- Flight schools — for inadequate pilot training
Commercial airline cases often involve federal preemption — meaning federal law may govern certain claims and override state law. International flights may fall under the Montreal Convention, which sets specific liability and damages rules for international aviation.
What Damages Can You Recover After an Airplane Crash?
Texas law allows airplane accident victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages.
| Economic Damages | Non-Economic Damages |
|---|---|
| Medical expenses (past and future) | Pain and suffering |
| Lost wages and lost earning capacity | Mental anguish and PTSD |
| Rehabilitation and therapy costs | Loss of enjoyment of life |
| Property damage | Disfigurement and scarring |
| Funeral and burial expenses | Loss of companionship |
When gross negligence is involved — such as a pilot flying impaired, an operator falsifying maintenance records, or a manufacturer hiding a known defect — punitive damages may also be available under Texas law.
Wrongful death claims allow surviving spouses, children, and parents to recover for loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and mental anguish. A separate survival action can recover damages the deceased could have claimed if they had lived.
How Long Do You Have to File an Airplane Accident Lawsuit?
Texas gives airplane accident victims two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit (Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003).
Important exceptions:
- Federal Tort Claims Act cases (involving FAA employees or air traffic controllers) require an administrative claim within two years and have specific procedural rules
- International flights under the Montreal Convention have a two-year filing deadline that cannot be extended by state law
- Product liability claims against manufacturers may follow different rules under the discovery rule or statute of repose
- Minors may have until two years after their 18th birthday to file
Evidence in airplane crash cases disappears fast. The NTSB controls the wreckage during its investigation, witnesses scatter, and maintenance records can be altered or lost. Contact an attorney immediately to preserve your rights.
How the NTSB Investigation Affects Your Case
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates every civil aviation accident in the United States. The investigation typically takes 12 to 24 months and produces a final report identifying the probable cause.
Key facts about NTSB investigations:
- The NTSB determines probable cause but does not assign legal liability
- NTSB reports are admissible in civil cases for factual findings, but the probable cause determination is generally not admissible
- Private attorneys cannot directly participate in the NTSB investigation
- Victims’ attorneys can conduct independent parallel investigations
- Evidence preservation is critical — wreckage, black boxes, and maintenance records must be secured before they’re lost or destroyed
Working with an attorney who understands how to run a parallel investigation — and how to use NTSB findings strategically — can make the difference between a strong case and a weak one.
How a Texas Airplane Accident Lawyer Can Help
Airplane cases require resources most personal injury firms don’t have. The Amaro Law Firm brings:
- Aviation experts — accident reconstructionists, former commercial pilots, aerospace engineers
- Federal litigation experience — many airplane cases involve federal court, federal preemption, and federal regulations
- Product liability experience — for cases involving manufacturer defects
- Resources to take on major airlines and manufacturers — who fight every claim aggressively
- Trial experience — when settlement offers fall short of full compensation
We handle airplane accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a commercial and private plane crash case? Commercial airline cases (Part 121) involve federal regulations, often federal court, and well-funded defendants. Private plane cases (Part 91) often involve product liability against manufacturers, smaller operators, and pilot estates. Both require aviation-specific expertise but involve different defendants and different legal frameworks.
Can I sue Boeing or another manufacturer after a crash? Yes. Aircraft manufacturers can be held liable under Texas product liability law if a design defect, manufacturing defect, or failure to warn contributed to the crash. Recent cases against Boeing involving the 737 MAX demonstrate how manufacturer liability claims work.
What if the crash happened on an international flight? International flights are typically governed by the Montreal Convention, which sets specific liability rules and a two-year filing deadline. These cases are complex and require attorneys familiar with international aviation law.
What if my loved one was the pilot? Pilot families can still recover damages in many cases — particularly when mechanical failure, defective parts, improper maintenance, or weather information failures contributed to the crash. Don’t assume your loved one is automatically at fault.
How much is an airplane accident case worth? Case values depend on injury severity, lost income, future medical needs, and the defendants involved. Cases involving wrongful death, permanent disability, or commercial defendants frequently result in seven- and eight-figure recoveries.
Will I have to go to trial? Most airplane cases settle before trial, but only when the plaintiff’s attorney is prepared and willing to try the case. Insurance companies and corporate defendants offer more when they know the firm has trial experience and resources.
Can multiple passengers from the same flight share an attorney? In some cases, yes, but conflicts of interest can arise — particularly when liability is disputed between defendants. Each passenger should have independent legal advice before deciding how to proceed.
Talk to a Texas Airplane Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one was injured or killed in an airplane crash, you need experienced legal representation now — before evidence disappears and deadlines expire.
Call 1-866-445-5645 or request a free case review online.
The Amaro Law Firm is ready to investigate your case and pursue the recovery you deserve.