A Cessna Citation leased by the University of Michigan Health System crashed Monday afternoon in Lake Michigan, approximately six miles outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The six individuals on board were on a lifesaving transplant mission that would take them from General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, to Willow Run airport, near Detroit, Michigan; approximately a 42 minute flight. Tragically, their mission was cut short, and went down approximately five minutes after takeoff.
The aircraft carried not only two surgeons and two transplant specialists from the University of Michigan Health System, but also two Marlin Air pilots who regularly flew transplant missions for the University. The patient who was to receive the transplant organs, at an undisclosed Michigan hospital, remained in critical condition. At this time, no identifications have been made.
A probable cause for this accident has not been officially released at this time; however, it is known that within five minutes of takeoff, one of the pilots declared an emergency and requested a return to General Mitchell International Airport. Immediately following that emergency request, the aircraft lost radar contact and the Coast Guard was contacted. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the aircraft may have experienced pitch trim runaway, which could have caused the rapid descent.
Only small pieces of the wreckage have been found thus far, however, the remains and condition of the aircraft debris found indicate that the aircraft impacted Lake Michigan at a high speed, possibly traveling between 185 and 190 miles per hour.
A team from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived Tuesday morning to commence investigation of this tragic accident. The Motley Rice Aviation team is currently investigating this accident and any legal responsibility that Cessna, Pratt & Whitney Canada, or the registered owner of the aircraft Toy Air, LLC, may have to the families of the victims of this terrible tragedy. Motley Rice has extensively litigated cases of aircraft with pitch trim problems such as pitch trim runaway and pitch trim reversal due to pitch trim maintenance procedures.
If you or someone you know is interested in seeking legal recourse for wrongful death as a result of this accident, please contact Motley Rice Aviation attorney and former Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Mary Schiavo at (843) 216-9138 or toll free at 1-800-768-4026. |
Motley Rice attorneys have many years of experience representing victims of airline disasters and have aircraft pilots and mechanics on staff. We also have French, Portuguese and Spanish translators on staff. If you have any questions, comments or would like to explore your legal rights as a result of this air crash, click here. |
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