Ejection Seat on Grounded Beechcraft T-6A Airplane Misfires Killing Air Force Pilot at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas
May 17, 2024
Attorneys
What Happened
A United States Air Force (USAF) instructor pilot was killed following an ejection seat misfire incident on Monday, May 13, 2024. The Beechcraft T-6A Texan II aircraft was on the ground during the tragic aviation accident. The Beechcraft T-6A Texan II is a two-seat, single-engine turboprop used for training by the military, including the USAF, Navy and Marine Corps.
Kreindler successfully represented the family of a commander of the elite Air Force Thunderbirds who was killed when he was forced to eject from his fighter jet at a low altitude. Kreindler attorneys demonstrated that the seat latch was improperly designed and obtained a favorable settlement from the manufacturer while overcoming the Government Contractor Defense.
In the Media
According to a BBC article, an instructor pilot can sit in one of the two available seats during training. Both seats are equipped with ejectors, which can be activated by a handle. Once activated, a cartridge explodes, initiating the ejection sequence.
The BBC cites a Military.com report regarding the 2022 grounding of 76 T-6A Texans amid safety concerns. Potential defects included the explosive cartridges within the ejection seats.
Kreindler’s Experience Handling Military Aircraft Accidents
Who knows more about aviation law than attorneys who are also licensed, commercial pilots?
Kreindler Partners and Former Military Pilots (L-R):
Justin Green (USMC)
Brian Alexander (U.S. Army)
Dan Rose (U.S. Navy)
Kreindler’s attorneys include veteran aviators from the Marines, Army, and Navy. No plaintiffs’ law firm in the country has more experience representing the families of military personnel killed following an aviation accident.
We have obtained recoveries for our clients in many military aviation accident cases, including:
- V-22 Osprey Helicopter, Bell Helicopters, Quantico, VA
- Navy Super Tucano A-29, New Mexico
- Boeing AH-64D Apache Helicopter, Royal Netherlands Air Force, Mali
- EH101 Merlin Helicopter (AgustaWestland), Culdrose, England
- Sikorsky MH-53E Navy Helicopter, Sigonella, Italy
- Lockheed KC-120, Norwegian Air Force
In the recent attorney article, Issues Related to Suing the Government or Other Responsible Parties For Injuries Sustained During Military Service, Kreindler attorney Evan Katin-Borland addresses the many obstacles service members and their families face when attempting to bring legal claims for injuries sustained or death resulting from activities in combat zones or during training exercises.