Early Tuesday incident happened south of Schlemeyer Airport
ECTOR, TX, (August 20, 2024) - The confirmed fatalities of a small plane crash in a neighborhood just south of Schlemeyer Airport include both the pilot and passenger.
Joleen Weatherly was one of two fatally injured occupants of a small plane that crashed Tuesday morning in Ector County.
The 1991 Cessna 550 went down at approximately 6:59 a.m. at Alderfer Avenue and East Yukon Street, as reported by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Preliminary findings suggest that the aircraft was flying low over Yukon and Alderfer Avenue in a southerly direction when it hit a power line before crashing into a private alleyway and colliding with multiple homes and sheds.
The pilot, a 48-year-old Bellaire man, and his passenger, 49-year-old Joleen Cavaretta Weatherly of Orange, were pronounced deceased at the scene.
The crash was reported to both the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration.
FATAL PLANE CRASH INVESTIGATION
During its investigation, authorities will examine if any other factors played a role in the plane crash. Pilot error, mechanical failure, and defective aircraft design and manufacturing can also cause airplane crashes.
The number of people killed in plane crashes in the U.S. increased by about 13 percent in 2018, according to the NTSB. Civil aviation fatalities rose from 347 in 2017 to 393 in 2018.
Most of these crashes occur on small, private planes. The NTSB usually issues a report with the cause or causes of the plane crash. These reports are often important pieces of evidence in a lawsuit.
Candice Bond, an experienced aviation attorney, said in such cases, it is also imperative to have an investigation conducted by a seasoned lawyer to protect the family of a victim’s rights.
“Plane crashes are often complex, and many factors can play a role in these types of accidents,” said Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Legal. “An attorney can advocate for a grieving family by hiring expert witnesses, and locating witnesses to the crash, while working with the NTSB and other investigating agencies. As an advocate, an attorney can help compassionately guide a family during this difficult time, protecting their legal rights and best interests.”
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the investigation, the family of Joleen Weatherly may pursue a wrongful death claim. Family members of wrongful death victims often seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a tragic or catastrophic accident.
“The stress and sorrow can be extremely overwhelming after losing a loved one in an accident,” said Stefano Formica, of counsel with Bond Legal. “We understand just what families must go through, and having their rights protected is vital. A wrongful death lawyer will stay updated on the official investigation and help ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected."
If you or a family member have been involved in a situation similar to this article and would like to speak to our national legal analysts Candice Bond or Stefano Formica free of charge, please use the contact information found on this page
(Candice Bond, Managing Partner, and Stefano Formica, Of Counsel, at Bond Legal, are the national legal analysts for Newsline. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).