New England General Aviation Accident Lawyer
Most aviation accidents in New England do not involve airlines. They involve general aviation: private airplanes, flight training, charter flights, helicopters, sightseeing and banner-tow operations, and aircraft maintenance. Muggeo & Associates represents people injured and families who have lost loved ones in these accidents, and the firm’s aviation practice is led by an attorney who is also an experienced pilot.
Legal Experience and Flight Experience
Attorney Louis J. Muggeo leads our aviation practice. A licensed private pilot with more than 2,000 hours of civilian flight time, he has served on the Beverly Airport Commission and has represented aircraft owners, pilots and aviation businesses. That practical background helps when reviewing flight data, maintenance records, weather, air traffic communications and pilot decision-making.
Airports and Airspace We Know
- Beverly Regional Airport: a short distance from our Salem office, with flight training, private and business aircraft.
- Hanscom Field (Bedford): a Massport-owned airport with heavy private, corporate jet and training traffic, sharing the field with Hanscom Air Force Base.
- Lawrence Municipal Airport (North Andover): a busy Merrimack Valley general aviation airport.
- Plum Island Airport (Newbury): a small airfield with short paved and grass runways near the coast, where runway length, wind and water approaches matter.
- New Hampshire airports: including Nashua‘s Boire Field, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and Portsmouth.
Common Causes of General Aviation Accidents
- Engine failure, fuel exhaustion or fuel contamination
- Improper maintenance, inspections or repairs
- Flight into deteriorating weather or icing conditions
- Loss of control on takeoff, approach or landing, including on short or grass runways
- Inadequate flight instruction or supervision of student pilots
- Defective aircraft, engine or component design or manufacture
- Mid-air collisions and ground collisions on ramps and taxiways
Who May Be Responsible
Depending on the facts, claims may involve the pilot, the aircraft owner or operator, a flight school, a charter operator, a maintenance or repair facility, a fuel supplier, an airport operator, or the manufacturer of the aircraft, engine or a part. The federal General Aviation Revitalization Act generally limits suits against manufacturers of general aviation aircraft and parts more than 18 years old, subject to exceptions, so the age and history of each component can matter. Aviation insurance policies often include exclusions tied to pilot certificates and ratings, airworthiness and the purpose of the flight, so coverage must be investigated carefully.
Why Acting Quickly Matters
Key evidence can disappear quickly. Federal air traffic facilities generally retain routine voice recordings for only a limited time unless they are preserved, and wreckage is typically released to the owner or insurer when the federal investigation no longer needs it. Our guide to NTSB investigations explains how the process works and what families can do, and our aircraft accident investigation checklist lists the records to secure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the NTSB decide who is legally at fault?
No. The NTSB determines a probable cause for safety purposes. It does not decide legal liability or award compensation, and its probable-cause report generally cannot be used as evidence in a civil damages lawsuit.
Can a passenger in a private plane bring a claim against the pilot?
Often, yes, if the pilot’s negligence caused the accident. Other parties, such as the aircraft owner, a maintenance shop or a manufacturer, may also be responsible. Insurance coverage and policy exclusions should be reviewed early.
How long do I have to bring an aviation claim?
Deadlines depend on the state, the type of claim and the defendants involved, and claims involving international flights or government entities can have special rules. Get advice promptly.
Talk With Our Aviation Practice
Call Muggeo & Associates at 978-741-1177 or contact us online. Learn more about our aviation law practice and plane and helicopter crash claims.
This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.