Plane Impacted Home In Compton, CA

The law firm of Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman, PC announced Wednesday three clients have filed a personal injury lawsuit against pilot Charles Reece and Eureka International, Inc., the owner of the Cessna that crashed into their home in Compton, CA on April 12, 2008.

The firm asserts Regina Hosley-Wright was in her kitchen when the plane impacted her home, crashing through the roof and forcing her through the outside wall of her home and onto the neighbors front lawn.

The lawsuit claims Hosley-Wright "was seriously injured and her health will remain at risk for the rest of her life." The suit further claims her boyfriend, Darryl Levin, also suffered physical injuries... while her daughter, who was able to get out of the house, suffered mental distress.

The suit seeks an unspecified amount of damages against the pilot and owner of the Cessna, which appears to be a real estate holdings company. "My clients want accountability," said attorney John Greaves. "Planes aren't supposed to crash into houses. This pilot and company need to take care of the people injured on the ground."

According to the National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report on the accident, the Cessna 310Q (similar to type shown below) experienced a loss of engine power on final approach to the Compton Airport. During the forced landing, the airplane descended into residential homes about a half mile east of the airport. The commercial certificated pilot and passenger were also injured.

A Los Angeles County deputy sheriff reported that he observed and heard the airplane's engine's rev up during the approach. The NTSB has yet to issue a probable cause report on the cause of this crash.

The Cessna had taken off from the Hawthorne Airport and flown to Montgomery Field in San Diego. The plane was headed back to Hawthorne when the pilot apparently tried to make an emergency landing at the Compton Airport, according to officials.

The lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, South Central District, Compton Branch.

FMI: Read The NTSB Prelim, www.baumhedlundlaw.com/