A managing director of Manhattan-based Greenhill & Co., his wife, two children, the family dog, and a co-worker were recently killed in a plane crash, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The group had taken off from Teterboro Airport en-route to Atlanta, Georgia to spend time with relatives when, shortly after takeoff, the plane lost control, spiraled downward, and crashed into a wooded area along Interstate 287, just south of Morris Township, New Jersey. All five occupants of the small plane were killed.
The Greenhill investment banker was both the owner and licensed pilot of the single-engine Socata TBM-700. Shortly after takeoff, he was in contact with air-traffic controllers about ice accumulation on the plane. Less than 15 minutes after take-off the plane proceeded to nose-dive onto I-287. According to NBC New York, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to shortly release a preliminary report on the crash; however, an investigation into the cause may take from six months to over one year to complete.
Until the NTSB completes its investigation, there can only be speculation as to the cause of the accident. However, according to a news article on SeattlePI.com, the plane was equipped with de-icing “boots”; instruments which are used to prevent the accumulation of ice as the plane ascends or descends. This feature may not have been activated yet, or it is possible that there was a malfunction or defect that prevented the pilot from using them or their proper functioning.
Defective equipment is a common cause of aviation accidents. Other potential causes include poor maintenance, pilot error, and lack of communication or mistakes by air-traffic controllers and other ground personnel.
If you have lost a loved one in a New Jersey plane crash, the experienced aviation accident lawyers in New Jersey at Blume Forte can help you investigate your potential claim. Contact us at 973-845-4421 for a no-cost consultation.