Pilots' Estates, Aircraft Owners Among Defendants

The economic slowdown doesn't appear to be affecting the litigation industry.

The mid-air collision of two single-engine Cessna aircraft over Corona, CA on January 20 of last year resulted in the deaths of all four people in the two planes, and one on the ground. The Orange County Register reports a lawsuit has now been filed by the former wife of one of the victims, targeting not only the estates of both dead pilots, but the parties who rented both aircraft to the pilots.

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued only a preliminary, factual report so far. In it, the board says a Cessna 172 and a Cessna 150 were both approaching runway 25 at the uncontrolled Corona Municipal Airport just after 3:30 pm local time.

The location of the collision was consistent with the Cessna's entering the left pattern while the 150 was established on the downwind leg. Based on reports from dozens of witnesses, it sounds as if neither pilot took evasive action, suggesting they never saw each other converging.

As ANN reported, two private pilots were killed in the 150. A pilot and a passenger died in the 172. An employee of Corona Chevrolet was sitting at his desk at the dealership when the 150's cockpit, firewall and engine crashed through the roof, injuring him fatally.

The passenger in the 172 was 55-year-old Scott Lawrence of Cerritos, CA. The suit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday by his former wife, Sarah Lawrence, his son, Bradford, and daughter, Briana Moeller.

Named in the suit are the estates of both pilots, along with William Reinke, a CFI who rented the 172, and Mike Branigan, general manager of the Corona Flight Academy, which owned the 150.

There was no immediate report on the compensation being sought. The NTSB's probable cause report, which is expected to be released soon, will not be admissible as evidence if the suit goes to trial.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov