Mon, Oct 09, 2006
Claims Fraud, Liability For Accident In Icing Conditions
The family of the 49-year-old pilot killed when her Cessna
208B Caravan went down in Winnipeg last October has filed suit
against Cessna, alleging the planemaker knew the aircraft was
unsafe in icing conditions.
The Wichita Eagle reports the lawsuit -- which seeks $25 million
in punitive damages for the loss of Nancy Chase Allen -- alleges
fraud, product liability, negligence, and breach of
warranty.
As Aero-News reported, Allen
was flying from Winnipeg to Thunder Bay October 6, 2005 when she
alerted controllers the Caravan's "wings were icing up." The plane
-- carrying cargo for Edmonton-based Morningstar Express, a FedEx
feeder airline -- crashed into a freight yard a short time
later.
The Canadian Transportation Safety Board has not completed its
investigation into the crash. According to a statement by Nolan Law
Group, the firm representing the family, the board has cited
inflight airframe icing as a factor in the crash.
"There is an undeniable pattern of design failure directly
contributing to the growing number of people killed and injured in
these crashes," the Chicago-based firm said in a statement.
The Eagle reports the firm is representing victims and families
from four accidents involving Caravans that crashed following
icing-induced stalls.
Cessna spokesman Doug Oliver said the company does not comment
on pending litigation.
According to National Transportation Safety Board figures, 33
people have died over the last 15 years in accidents attributed to
icing on Caravans.
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