Slack & Davis represents clients in the following aviation cases.

Lifeflight Tragedy

Emergency helicopters are supposed to save lives, not take them. Slack & Davis represents the family of Mario Wyatt Guerrero, who died in the January 2003 crash of an Agusta A-109-K2 air ambulance helicopter, operating as LifeFlight 6, near Salt Lake City, Utah. He left behind wife Terri Guerrero, their four children, and his parents. Guerrero was a firefighter/paramedic for the Provo Fire Department; firefighter/paramedic for the Lone Peak Fire District of Utah; and flight medic for LifeFlight (IHC Health Services, Inc.).

Watch this!

A police helicopter pilot in training at a certified facility told his flight trainer about a new tactic his police department was considering using. The officer felt the tactic would place the aircraft in a precarious position. The highly regarded flight instructor replied, “Really? Watch this!” With that, the instructor executed the maneuver. The helicopter crashed. Luckily, injuries to our client were minor, but the aircraft received extensive damage.

Out of Gas

Slack & Davis represents the family of a pilot who was flying to Arizona when the engine quit because a gauge did not show the correct level of gasoline. The pilot was ferrying a recently repainted plane to a new owner when it crashed. The pilot called 911 from her cell phone, but two emergency helicopters could not find her. With severe injuries, she managed to walk to a farmhouse. She later underwent extensive reconstructive surgery for facial injuries.

GPS to the Rescue

Two well-known Houston families were flying from Belize City to San Fedora Island when their plane crashed into the sea. The pilot had become disoriented in a storm. The passengers miraculously survived by kicking open an airplane door. One of our clients used a handheld GPS system to pinpoint the plane’s location, and a handheld radio to call the U.S. Coast Guard. Their harrowing experience was featured on national media, including the Today Show.

It’s Deicing

A chartered Cessna 208 Caravan crashed in October 2001 on takeoff outside of Dillingham, Alaska. Slack & Davis represents the family of the pilot. “At issue is the performance of the Cessna 208 in icing conditions, as well as the effectiveness of the Cessna 208 deicing procedures and equipment,” said Rusty Allman.

No Smoking Please

In another matter, our firm represents a number of passengers from Delta Flight 1267, which flew from Missoula, Montana, to Salt Lake City, Utah, in March 1998. Electronic equipment aboard the plane had acted up for days but was not repaired. In flight, the equipment started burning and billowed acrid smoke throughout the aircraft. The plane had to make an emergency landing. Passengers experienced smoke inhalation and post traumatic stress disorders.

Under Investigation

Slack & Davis represents the family of a pilot in a Hawker jet training program. The jet crashed in southeast Texas, killing the pilot. The case is under investigation.