Private and Corporate Aircraft Accident Litigation

Katzman Lampert & Stoll represents clients in private jet, corporate aircraft, and charter aviation accident cases nationwide. These matters frequently involve complex ownership structures, layered operational responsibilities, and federal regulatory considerations distinct from other aviation accident litigation practice.

Private and business aviation accidents may arise from Part 91 operations (private ownership and corporate flight departments) or Part 135 operations (charter and on-demand air carrier services). The legal analysis in these cases often requires disciplined examination of operational control, aircraft certification, maintenance oversight, pilot training standards, and regulatory compliance under the Federal Aviation Regulations.

Operational Structure and Liability Framework

Unlike scheduled airline operations, private and corporate aircraft are often owned by limited liability entities, leased through management companies, or operated under layered agreements between aircraft owners, charter operators, and maintenance providers. Determining operational control is central to liability analysis.

These cases may implicate aircraft owners, management companies, charter certificate holders, maintenance organizations, component manufacturers, and in some instances governmental entities. Identifying the responsible parties requires early preservation of records, regulatory documentation, and contractual materials governing aircraft use and oversight.

Part 91 and Part 135 Distinctions

The distinction between Part 91 and Part 135 operations is frequently significant. Part 91 generally governs private operations, including corporate flight departments. Part 135 governs charter and on-demand commercial operations and imposes different regulatory requirements concerning pilot qualifications, maintenance protocols, operational specifications, and oversight.

Whether an aircraft was operating under private authority or charter authority at the time of an accident can materially affect the legal framework, potential defendants, insurance coverage, and regulatory duties implicated in the case.

Aircraft Certification and Product Liability

Private and corporate jet accidents often involve sophisticated aircraft systems, including advanced avionics, fly-by-wire controls, autopilot systems, and turbine engines. Litigation may require detailed examination of type certification data, supplemental type certificates, airworthiness directives, and engineering submissions to the Federal Aviation Administration.

When appropriate, claims may involve aircraft manufacturers, engine manufacturers, or component suppliers. Federal preemption defenses are frequently raised in these matters and must be addressed through careful analysis of certification compliance and governing appellate precedent.

Maintenance and Oversight Issues

Business aircraft are often maintained through third-party maintenance organizations or under management company oversight. Questions of inspection compliance, logbook accuracy, deferred maintenance, and adherence to manufacturer service bulletins can become central to causation analysis.

Early access to maintenance records, flight data, cockpit voice recordings where available, and regulatory filings is often essential. Coordinated expert evaluation may be required to determine whether operational, mechanical, or design factors contributed to the accident.

Also see our article on aging aircraft design life and fatigue litigation issues.

Investigative Approach

Aviation accident litigation requires independent evaluation of technical evidence in addition to monitoring any investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board. Preservation of wreckage, documentation, and electronic data is frequently time-sensitive.

The of the firm are pilots, and this helps inform our investigative methodology. The firm maintains in-house investigative capability and regularly evaluates operational procedures, aircraft systems, and regulatory materials as part of its litigation preparation.

Relationship to Broader Aviation Litigation Practice

Private and corporate aircraft accident cases form part of the firm’s broader aviation accident litigation practice, which includes commercial airline disasters, general aviation crashes, military aviation incidents, and complex product liability actions.

Additional information regarding federal regulatory structure and investigative processes is available on the firm’s Aviation Accident Litigation and Federal Preemption pages, as well as our For Families After an Aviation Accident page.