Bennett Hatfield Injured In Cortland Plane Crash

Personal Injury - July 30, 2023

Pilot and Bennett Hatfield, of Evansville, Indiana, Injured In Cortland Plane Crash Near DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport

CORTLAND, ILLINOIS (July 30, 2023) – A Cessna 177 pilot and passenger identified as Bennett Hatfield were injured in a Cortland plane crash.

DeKalb County police are saying that the accident took place around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday near the DeKalb Municipal Airport. A Cessna 177 crashed into a field behind a business at 260 West Lincoln Highway.

The plane had two people inside including a pilot and Bennett Hatfield who was a passenger. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victims.

Both the pilot and Bennett Hatfield were taken to the hospital in order to receive treatment. The pilot apparently issued a mayday prior to the crash.

A full investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board remains ongoing.

Liability For Cortland Plane Crashes

General aviation is one of the safest forms of travel. However, private aviation has an accident rate comparable to that of motor vehicles. Commercial flights tend to have a number of safety features that simply are not there for smaller planes. For example, commercial aircraft often have two engines. Even if one engine goes out, the plane can still temporarily fly. There is far less regulation for smaller aircraft and private aviation generally. There are a number of factors that could contribute to a plane crash.

• Adverse weather makes plane crashes substantially more likely. Poor weather can reduce visibility leaving pilots more likely to make crucial errors. It is also much more difficult to control a plane during inclement weather.
• A plane crash could be caused by negligence on the part of the air traffic controller. The air traffic controller could direct a plane into the airspace of another aircraft.
• Inadequate maintenance is another major contributing factor for plane crashes. Airplanes are complex pieces of machinery and need to be properly maintained to function safely.

Depending on the facts of any case, there could be numerous sources of liability for any plane crash. If, for example, a plane went down due to some sort of mechanical malfunction the company that created the aircraft could face liability. Companies have a legal responsibility to make products that are reasonably safe. A number of plane crashes occur when planes lose thrust due to failures with the turbine. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any plane crash.

• Surveillance footage from nearby businesses should be sought.
• All medical records related to any injuries sustained should be preserved.
• The maintenance records for the plane involved in the crash should be examined.
• A thorough investigation into the cause of the plane crash should be conducted.

The FAA and NTSB can take anywhere from 6 months to one year to finish their investigation into any plane crash. But in many situations the cause of a plane crash might become apparent well before that time. It is important for victims of plane crashes to know that they do have rights. Any person that is injured in a plane crash has the ability to pursue damages through a civil claim.

Investigating Illinois Plane Crashes

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to Bennett Hatfield and the pilot injured in this Cortland plane crash. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the FAA. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other accidents like this.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Cortland plane crash? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of aviation safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.