Boat, ATV, train and plane
Dallas airplane and helicopter accident lawyer.
After a small plane or helicopter crash, the federal government takes the wreckage and starts an investigation that can take a year or more. The manufacturers and operators usually take part in it. The families do not. We step in early to protect your side: preserve the records that are not in federal hands, find every company that may share responsibility, and give you plain answers in English or Spanish while the investigation runs.
Right now
In the first days after an air crash.
- 01
Take care of yourself and your family
Get medical care for anyone hurt, including people on the ground. Keep every record and bill.
- 02
Write down what you know about the flight
The aircraft's tail number, the operator or company, the pilot's name, where it took off and where it was going, and why the person was on board.
- 03
Keep messages, photos and videos
Texts or photos sent from the flight, social media posts and any videos of the aircraft before the crash can matter. Do not delete anything.
- 04
Do not sign anything from an insurer or operator
Aviation insurers sometimes offer early payments with a release attached. Read nothing as final until a lawyer has looked at it.
- 05
Call us early
Maintenance records, radio recordings and radar data can be lost if no one asks for them. The first consultation is free, in English or Spanish.
Key deadlines and numbers
- Deadline to sue in Texas
- 2 years from the injury, or from the date of deathSource: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.003
- Who investigates
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)Source: 49 U.S.C. 1131
- Can the NTSB's conclusions be used in court?
- No. The Board's reports cannot be admitted in a lawsuit for damagesSource: 49 U.S.C. 1154(b)
- Families in the investigation
- Not allowed as parties; manufacturers and operators usually areSource: 49 C.F.R. 831.11
- Claims against small aircraft makers
- Many are barred 18 years after the aircraft or part was deliveredSource: General Aviation Revitalization Act, 49 U.S.C. 40101 note
Texas law
How the law treats an aviation accident.
Aviation is regulated by federal law, but most injury and death claims are still decided under state negligence and product liability law. Crashes usually come down to some mix of pilot error, maintenance and a defective part or design, and each one points to a different company. Because the federal investigation and the lawsuit run on separate tracks, your side needs its own investigation.
| Who | When they may be responsible |
|---|---|
| The pilot and operator | Flying into bad weather, fuel planning, poor training, flying beyond limits. |
| The maintenance shop | Missed inspections, bad repairs, wrong parts. |
| The manufacturer | Defective engines, rotors, fuel systems, controls or instruments, or poor warnings. |
| The company that hired the flight | Pressure to fly, choosing an unsafe operator, for example on medical, pipeline or crop spraying flights. |
| Air traffic control | Rarely, but possible. Claims against the federal government follow special federal rules and deadlines. |
The NTSB looks for safety lessons, not fault
The Board's job is to find the probable cause and prevent the next crash. It does not decide who pays, and its conclusions cannot be used in your lawsuit. Factual material it gathers can still help, so we follow the investigation closely.
Source: 49 U.S.C. 1154Maintenance records tell the story
Owners and operators must keep records of inspections and repairs. Some records are kept only for a limited time, so a preservation demand should go out early.
Source: 14 C.F.R. 91.417Product claims have long but firm limits
Texas product liability law and a federal law for general aviation both limit how long after the sale a maker can be sued. A newer replacement part can restart the clock for that part, so the parts history matters.
Source: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.012How we work
How we build an aviation case.
Mr. Estrada reads your file and sets the strategy. Our team works the details with him, and you get updates in English or Spanish.
01
Preserve what is not in federal hands
Maintenance logs, pilot training and medical records, the operator's flight records, fuel receipts and company communications.
02
Request flight data and recordings
Air traffic control audio, radar and tracking data, and weather records, through the proper federal requests before they are discarded.
03
Bring in aviation engineers
When the case calls for it, independent engineers and pilots review the wreckage findings, the parts and the flight path for our side.
04
Identify every defendant and policy
Operator, owner, maintenance shop, part makers and any company that hired the flight, and the aviation insurance behind each one.
05
File in the right court and prepare for trial
Aviation cases often involve out of state companies and federal court. We choose the court carefully and prepare the case to be tried.
Who handles it
The lawyer on the sign is the lawyer on your case.
Mr. Estrada has practiced in Texas since 2003, in state court and in the Northern, Eastern and Western federal districts of Texas. He reads the file and sets the strategy, with associates and staff who work the case alongside him. Everything is explained to you in English or Spanish.
What clients say
“Olegario firm made me feel like I was at home. As soon as I walked in the receptionist was very kind and professional.”Questions families ask us.
- Who can bring a claim if someone died?
- In Texas, the spouse, children and parents can bring a wrongful death claim, and the estate brings the claim the person had. Brothers and sisters cannot bring a wrongful death claim on their own.
- The person was working when it happened
- Pilots, flight nurses, pipeline patrol crews and agricultural workers may have a workers' comp claim and a separate claim against outside companies, like the aircraft maker or maintenance shop.
- Do we need papers to make a claim?
- No. Families can bring these claims regardless of status. Talk to us privately. What you tell us stays between you and the firm.
Dallas and Odessa
Small airports and working aircraft in Texas.
Dallas Executive Airport sits in southwest Dallas, not far from our Oak Cliff office, and small planes and medical helicopters fly over North Texas every day from fields like Addison, Grand Prairie and Lancaster. In West Texas, our Odessa office is near the Odessa and Midland airports, where pipeline patrol planes, crop dusters and other working aircraft fly low over the Permian Basin.
FAQ
Questions people ask.
How long does an NTSB investigation take?
A preliminary report usually comes out within weeks, but the final report and probable cause often take a year or longer. The Texas deadline to sue does not wait for the final report.
Do I have to wait for the NTSB before I hire a lawyer?
No. The companies involved are usually working with the investigation from the start. Hiring a lawyer early lets your side preserve records and follow the facts as they come out.
Who is responsible when a medical helicopter crashes?
It depends on the cause. The operator, the maintenance provider, the aircraft or part maker, and sometimes the hospital or company that contracted the service may be involved. Each has its own insurance.
A crop duster sprayed or crashed near my home
People on the ground can have claims too, for injuries, property damage or chemical exposure. Write down the date, time and what you saw, keep photos, and get medical care if you feel sick.
How long do we have to file?
Generally two years from the injury or death under Texas law, with different rules for claims against the federal government and for some flights that cross borders. Call early so the right deadline is used.
How much does it cost to hire you?
The first consultation is free. Injury cases are handled on a contingency fee, which means the fee comes out of the recovery, not out of your pocket. We explain the exact terms, including case costs, before you sign.
Related situations
- Wrongful death
- Defective products
- Catastrophic injuries
- Burn injuries
- Oilfield injuries
- Workplace injuries
- All: Personal Injury
Updated October 2026
This page is general information about Texas law, not legal advice for your situation. Reading it does not create an attorney client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
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Oak Cliff and Odessa.
Mon to Fri 9 to 5, Sat 9 to 12. Emergencies 24/7 by phone.
Law Office of Olegario Estrada, P.C.
We explain everything.We answer 24/7.Se habla español.
Free consultation by phone, video, or in person. Offices in Dallas and Odessa.