For many people, flying on a plane is an exercise in overcoming fear. It could be because people aren’t designed to fly naturally that some travellers have such a strong fear of flying. But it could also be because of the risks involved. Though we often hear that traveling by air is one of the safest ways to get from one place to another, we also receive regular reports of plane accidents on the news, making us all aware that flying doesn’t come without risks.
The Houston Chronicle’s Expose team has compiled all of the recent aircraft accidents in Texas and put them together in an interactive map. You can see where the crashes occurred, what type of plane the accident involved, and how many people were injured or killed.
At first glance, the map seems crowded with downed planes. Looking more closely, you can see that the majority of plane accidents don’t involve serious injury or fatalities. Still, such serious aircraft accidents do happen.
Since 2011, there have been 277 aircraft accidents in Texas. In those, 77 people were killed and 52 were seriously injured, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Usually, these accidents involve small private planes. Of the 277 accidents, 172 were private aircraft.
Four of the fatal accidents happened in the greater-Houston area including one last fall that happened when a private jet pilot flew “low and slow” over a witness before climbing to avoid transmission wires. That plane crashed to the ground after the maneuvers, killing both the pilot and passenger.
A month earlier, another aviation accident happened when an aerial photography helicopter crashed in a steel pipe storage yard in southeast Houston. Two people died in that crash.
Pilots are required to log a certain number of hours of flying before they receive their pilot’s license. This is to ensure they are experienced before they fly unassisted and before they take on passengers. Even the most experienced pilots can make mistakes or find themselves in situations they’ve never had to deal with. When this occurs, the risk of an aircraft accident or plane crash is multiplied.
Whether you fly on a small plane for the thrill and experience or a friend offers you a lift—they assume responsibility for your safety. When that safety is put in jeopardy, someone must be held accountable.
Houston Area Accident Lawyer
Houston accident attorney Kevin Krist represents people who are injured in serious accidents, including accidents involving cars, aircraft, trains, buses, bikes, motorcycles, and more. If you’ve been seriously hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault, contact our office for a free consultation at 281-677-3957.
