Settlement Reached in 2008 Learjet 60 Crash

By: Kirby J. Harrison

November 19, 2009
Accidents

A settlement has been reached in one of a number of lawsuits stemming from the September 2008 crash of a Learjet 60 in which Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein was injured. According to Los Angeles County Superior Court papers, the widow of pilot James Bland, who died in the Columbia, S.C. crash, will receive $406,250 and his 17-year-old daughter will receive $25,000 a year for the next three years from defendants in the case–Global Executive Aviation, Inter Travel & Services and the Pem Group.

In a separate filing, the estate of Adam Goldstein is suing Clay Lacy Aviation, Goodyear Tire, Learjet and Inter Travel & Services and others for wrongful death. The amended suit claims Goldstein was forced to take various drugs for the burns and emotional distress he suffered as a result of the crash.

The accident, therefore, was the ultimate cause of the celebrity disc jockey’s death of a drug overdose, the suit alleges. Following the crash, a tire debris trail was found at approximately 2,800 feet down the 8,602-foot runway and the NTSB is eyeing a blown tire as the possible cause of the accident.

Both pilots and two other passengers were killed in the accident. Goldstein and punk rocker Travis Barker were injured.

Goldstein was found dead in August in his Manhattan apartment. The official cause of death was later determined to be “acute intoxication” from a combination of prescription drugs and cocaine.

Back

Ice in Fuel System Caused 777 Crash March 01, 2010 A fuel-flow restriction at the fuel/oil heat exchanger (FOHE) on the right engine and “most likely” on the left-hand FOHE resulted in the... [more]
Platinum Jet Trial Postponed until May March 01, 2010 The trial of Michael and Paul Brassington, John Kimberling, Brien McKenzie and pilot Francis Vieira, executives and employees of now defunct... [more]
Preliminary Report: Helicopter Damaged After Autorotation February 24, 2010 Bell 407, Decatur, Texas, Dec. 25, 2009–The medevac helicopter was departing on a Part 91 positioning flight to pick up a patient when it lost... [more]
Preliminary Report: S-76 Rolls on Platform Landing February 24, 2010 Sikorsky S-76C++, Gulf of Mexico, Dec. 24, 2009–The helicopter was flying under Part 135 on an IFR flight plan when it rolled over after landing... [more]
Preliminiary Report: Power-Line Collision Claims Four Lives February 24, 2010 Bell 206B, Auberry, Calif., Jan. 5, 2010–The JetRanger, registered to Palm Springs Aviation and operated by the California Department of Fish... [more]