Fuel Starvation Crashes

There is rarely one incident that dooms an aircraft. An air crash is usually the result of a number of errors or failures that lead to a catastrophe. Fuel starvation has proven to be troublesome throughout the history of aviation, resulting in many lost aircraft and flight fatalities. Understanding fuel starvation is key to knowing your rights if you are involved in an air accident.

What is Fuel Starvation?

Fuel starvation is a condition in which an aircraft's engines cannot function because of a lack of fuel. This phenomenon can occur for a variety of reasons, from pilot error to sabotage and miscalculations. The result is a situation in which both pilots and passengers are at risk. Throughout history, there have been several incidents in which fuel starvation has been blamed for aircraft damage and passenger fatalities and injuries.

Avianca Flight 52, January 1990

This New York bound airliner was forced into several holding patterns on approach due to inclement weather. The crew failed to alert the air traffic control tower that they had insufficient fuel to continue their hold pattern, and failed to request priority landing clearance. As a result, the jetliner crashed just short of the airport on Long Island, killing 73 passengers and crew.

Air Canada Flight 143

Due to a conversion error, this aircraft suffered fuel starvation when the crew failed to fuel the plane with the right amount of fuel. The crew loaded the aircraft with pounds instead of kilograms of fuel. As a result, the plane was fueled with only half of what it needed to make the flight. The plane was able to glide safely to a nearby airport. There were no fatalities. This error lead to changes in how fuel is measured and how flight crews are trained to read fuel gauges.

Air Tahoma Flight 185

On August 13, 2004, Air Tahoma crashed in an open field, killing one of the pilots. An investigation revealed that the crew had mismanaged the fuel tank system. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. Further digging turned up numerous incidents of mishandled fuel tanks leading to air crashes. Aircraft accident lawyers have fielded many cases in which flight crew mismanagement has lead to accidents and fatalities.

Human Factors in Fuel Starvation Accidents

There are numerous safeguards in place to ensure that an aircraft has the right amount of fuel for a trip. In most fuel starvation accidents, pilot or other human error is to blame. In the Avianca crash, the accident could have been avoided and many lives saved if the pilot had alerted air traffic control to the severity of their dwindling fuel supply. Fuel starvation is one of the most avoidable causes of air fatalities, and victims are often at a loss to understand why these accidents occur.

If You Have Been Involved in an Accident

If you have been involved in an accident, the best thing you can do is to hire an attorney that will fight for your rights. Personal injury law covers aircraft accidents as a part of product liability, and you may be able to receive compensation for your pain and suffering. There have been many lawsuits in recent years that have lead to widespread changes in the aviation industry, making flying safer for both pilots and passengers.