Pilot's Family Awarded $7.5 Million From Aircraft's Owner

The family of the pilot of a Beech BE-58 Baron that went down on a flight to deliver specimens to a Quest Diagnostics lab in Teterboro has been awarded a $7.5 million settlement from Quest, which owned the airplane.

The pilot was George Maddox. He was listed as pilot-in-command of the Baron on the flight in 2009. His co-pilot was Sanil Gopinath, who was described in the suit filed by Maddox's widow Lisa as an independent "contract" pilot. The suit claimed that Gopinath was the pilot flying the airplane at the time of the accident.

The accident occurred during a go-around at Teterboro. The plane impacted a tree and then the ground. A post-impact fire ensued. Maddox suffered severe burns and died two weeks later. Gopinath survived the accident, according to a report appearing on northjersy.com.

Lisa Maddox said that the accident was caused by "operational error" and "maintenance related failure." She cited excerpts from an interview with Gopinath after the accident in which he said "I brought the power down, I made a left turn, and [Captain Maddox] freaks out, ‘What have you done? You’ve lost both your engines’.”

The lawsuit held that Gopinath was not properly trained to fly the airplane, and that Quest was at fault for hiring him.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov