Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Plane Crashes in Alaska
In Anchorage and other cities across Alaska, traveling by plane is almost more common than traveling by car. Small planes are a staple in Alaskan travel, with locals stating that there are more planes than cars, though this isn’t exactly true. However, Alaska does have the highest plane owner ratio in the nation, with about 11,000 registered flyers out of about 600,000 people. The National Transportation Safety Board stated that Alaskans are 76 times more likely to fly than the residents of the 48 lower states.
A large portion of Alaska is inaccessible by road travel in the winter months. Even in the milder seasons, the roads aren’t always the most efficient means of travel. For instance, in order to travel from Juneau to Anchorage by car, it takes approximately 19 hours. By plane, it only takes about 100 minutes. There are over 600 private and public airports in the Last Frontier, and plenty of other natural runways to land on.
An important goal of the Law Office of Jason Skala, LLC is to help our clients to fully understand each aspect of their case in order to be able to make well-informed decisions that could affect the remainder of their lives. On top of assisting our clients to better understand the details of their unique cases, we also find value and benefit in informing our clients of some basic plane crash facts. We hope that in providing you with some answers to frequently asked questions concerning plane crashes in Alaska, that you will be able to proceed with your own aviation accident injury case more confidently.
FAQs about Alaskan Plane
Crashes Answered
Travel by small plane in Alaska is the most efficient way to get around the nation’s largest state, however, it is also one of the riskiest modes of travel. From 1990 to 2002, there were 130 pilots who lost their lives in Alaskan plane crashes.
We at the Law Office of Jason Skala, LLC have witnessed first-hand the frustration and confusion that our clients are often faced with after involvement and injury or even the loss of a loved one due to these serious accidents. Jason Skala is an experienced Alaska personal injury attorney who possesses a working history of dealing with aviation accidents. The following questions often arise during an aviation accident claim.
Who investigates plane crashes in Alaska and across the US? The National Transportation Safety Board investigates all aviation accidents in the nation. Plane crash investigations can take up to an entire year to complete, and in more complex cases, these investigations can last for a number of years.
Who regulates airline safety in Alaska? The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates airline safety in Alaska and across the US. This includes cargo and passenger flights in the US. The FAA is vigilant and rigorous in their protection of crews and passengers on flights, however, flying is innately a dangerous mode of travel. Unfortunately, the truth is that many private charter pilots and airline companies may side step safety regulations in an effort to protect profits.
What are some common plane crash causes? The leading cause of plane crashes in Alaska and the United States is pilot error. Boeing reports that up to half of plane crashes are the result of pilot error. Some other leading causes of aviation accidents include:
Improper aviation maintenance
Weather
Crew error
Mechanical failure
The majority of plane accidents occur during take-off or landing, and collisions are more common in smaller, private planes.
How common are plane crash fatalities? The National Safety Council stated that the chances of a plane crash turning fatal are about 1 in 8,321. The odds of dying from choking are about 1 in 3,649, and the odds of dying in a pedestrian crash are about 1 in 723.
Who can be held responsible for an aviation accident? In the unfortunate event that you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury or lost their lives in an Alaska plane crash, an Alaska personal injury attorney from the Law Office of Jason Skala, LLC will conduct a thorough investigation concerning all of the contributing factors of your accident. They may be able to hold multiple parties responsible depending on the circumstances of your crash, including:
Air traffic controllers
Pilot
Crew
Part Manufacturers
Fuel supplier
Maintenance crew
Federal gov’t
Owner of the aircraft
To learn more about your existing legal rights as an injured aviation accident victim or the surviving family member of one, including your right to financial compensation for your injuries and incurred losses, please contact the Law Office of Jason Skala, LLC by following the link or calling us.