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US Air Flight 1016 Charlotte Crash
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“I wanted to write to you to let you know what a great job you did representing all families and crash victims of Flight 1016. You are to be truly commended […] I truly enjoyed watching you battle it out with Mr. Dombroff (all the while maintaining your composure) and seeing how much compassion you obviously feel for your clients. Thank you for such an educational experience. I hope our paths will cross again.”
Protecting the rights of aviation accident victims and their families for nearly four decades, we are the attorneys other lawyers turn to when handling high-profile aircraft accidents. In fact, our team is often called upon to lead groups of plaintiffs attorneys when investigating and prosecuting these cases.
- Mid-air collision cases involving the failures of air traffic controllers, Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems, and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)
- Lawsuits against aircraft manufacturers like Boeing, Bombardier, McDonnell Douglas, and Raytheon
- Cases involving commercial airlines like American Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, Delta, Southwest Airlines, and Alaska Air
- Crashes that involve the US Army, air ambulances, helicopters, charter flights, regional, national, and international flights, and foreign aviation accidents
Our attorneys have achieved exceptional results in all types of aviation accident cases, and we have earned a reputation for obtaining substantial compensation for those we represent.
We are recognized leaders in aviation litigation. Our integrity, experience, skill, and deep passion for justice have earned our aviation accident attorneys a reputation for excellence nationally and internationally. Our significant commercial aviation accident experience includes:
- United Airlines Flight 811 in 1989
- United Airlines Flight 232 in 1989
- United Airlines Flight 585 in 1991
- US Air Flight 405 in 1992
- American Eagle Flight 3379 in 1994
- US Air Flight 1016 in 1994
- United Express Flight 5925 in 1996
- Dana Air Flight 992 in 2012
- US Airways Flight 1702 in 2014
- Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in 2019
- American Eagle Flight 3379 in 1994
- SwissAir Flight 111 in 1998
- American Airlines Flight 1420 in 1999
- EgyptAir Flight 990 in 1999
- Big Island Airlines Flight 57 in 2000
- American Airlines Flight 587 in 2001
- US Airways Express Flight 5481 in 2003
- Delta Connection Flight 5191 in 2006
- Ketchikan Midair Collision in 2019
- Kenai Midair Collision in 2020
- Alaska Air Flight 1282 in 2024
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation and has issued its preliminary report. The NSTB investigation is supported by investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Defense (DOD). Black boxes have been recovered from the helicopter and the plane, and flight data is under review. On March 11, 2025 the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued its preliminary report which contained startling revelations about the frequency of “near-misses” occurring near Reagan International Airport which had been documented for years leading up to the crash. Urgent action is being recommended to restrict helicopter activity near the airport.
Our law firm is currently investigating the events that led up to the tragic collision between American Flight 5342 and the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River.
If you lost a family member in the American Potomac River midair collision, American Airlines is required to provide you with immediate assistance and share updated information with you about the investigation. However, multiple parties may be liable for the crash, and your losses. These include:
American Airlines — In addition to the airline itself, the operating partners of the airline, PSA Airlines (a regional carrier for American) may also be liable.
Aircraft and Component Manufacturers — If a defect in the aircraft components, like the Traffic Alerting and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), contributed to the crash, manufacturers may be liable.
Air Traffic Control — The NTSB preliminary report has indicated troubling concerns about staffing and decision making by air traffic controllers.
The Federal Government — Serious questions need to be answered about why the government permitted a helicopter route to exist with less than 100’ of clearance from the landing approach for aircraft lined up on Runway 33, especially with the high frequency of “near-misses” occurring near the airport.
Because there are so many variables that may have been at play when the crash occurred, and multiple parties may share liability, representation by experienced aviation accident attorneys is crucial. Hiring Rapoport Weisberg Sims & VanOverloop, PC. is the best option for making sure your rights are protected.
Yes. Even though the NTSB and others are investigating the crash, you still need to hire an experienced aviation accident lawyer to protect your rights. The NTSB’s role is to improve safety, not to secure compensation for the families of crash victims. Moreover, NTSB conclusions are not admissible in civil cases. When you hire our firm, we conduct our own, independent investigation of the events that led up to the collision, making sure all liable parties are held accountable.
Hiring our legal team won’t cost you anything upfront. Our firm operates on a contingency basis to make sure that all injured victims and their families have access to high-quality legal representation. We’ll shoulder the financial burden of conducting the investigation, gathering evidence, securing the statements of expert witnesses, and helping you recover compensation for your losses with no out-of-pocket cost to you. Our legal fees are only paid once we win your case.
In the case of the Flight 5342 collision, the black boxes (flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder) from both aircraft can provide crucial evidence, including:
- Aircraft Position & Movements: Speed, altitude, heading, rate of climb or descent, and control surface positions.
- Collision Sequence: Any last-second maneuvers, such as evasive actions or deviations from flight paths.
- Systems Performance: Functionality of navigation, communication, and collision-avoidance systems before impact.
- Autopilot & Manual Inputs: Whether the pilot was manually controlling the aircraft or if autopilot settings contributed to the accident.
- Pilot Communications: Conversations between the flight crew.
- Crew Reactions: Verbal responses to any warnings, alerts, or last-minute evasive actions.
- Alarm and Warning Sounds: Any cockpit alerts, such as a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) warning, indicating if the pilots were alerted before impact.
- Environmental Sounds: Background noises, such as an explosion or unusual mechanical sounds, could indicate the nature of the collision.
- Comparing data from both aircraft could clarify flight paths, possible miscommunications, or system failures.
- The CVR and FDR from the helicopter might provide additional insight into the crew's awareness of the passenger jet and any last-minute maneuvers.
This data can help investigators determine the cause of the collision, whether it resulted from pilot error, air traffic control miscommunication, mechanical failure, or other factors.
Aviation crash cases have strict deadlines. Waiting too long could mean losing your right to compensation.
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