WorkSafe New Brunswick is suing the Grand Manan charter service, Manan Air Services Inc. and the estate of a deceased pilot, in relation to a plane crash that claimed the life of a pilot and paramedic.
The lawsuit claims Manan Air Services Inc. and the captain of the flight were negligent.
Court documents show the lawsuit was filed on Aug. 12, on behalf of the estate of William Dwight Mallock. William (Billy) Mallock, 60, was the paramedic who died in the crash of a Piper PA-31 aircraft along with pilot and co-owner of the flight company, Klaus Sonnenberg.
Documents claim the captain of the airplane, Sonnenberg, commenced flight with a single headset onboard, and the flight took place in weather that obscured visual references needed for landing.
The fatal plane crash took place in an open field next to the airstrip where the plane should have landed in the early hours of Aug. 16, 2014. Both Sonnenberg and Mallock were residents of Grand Manan.
Court documents filed almost exactly two years after the crash also allege carry-on baggage, equipment and cargo were not restrained on the flight and became "dangerous projectiles in the crash." It also claims Sonnenberg installed the Air Ambulance system without proper training.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
The Mallock estate, represented by Mallock's widow Katherine Mallock, is seeking damages for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of future income, loss of available services, loss of parental guidance, and damages for pain and suffering.
Those who filed the lawsuit are not commenting on its filing.
"I spoke to my client about that, that it might be getting some publicity and she asked me not comment," said lawyer Peter MacPhail. "Not right now."
New Brunswick laws allow WorkSafeNB to pay out benefits and then sue employers to collect money.
Source: http://www.cbc.ca
Aviation Investigation Report A14A0067: http://www.tsb.gc.ca
NTSB Identification: CEN14WA531
14 CFR Non-U.S., Commercial Manan Air Service
Accident occurred Saturday, August 16, 2014 in Manan, Canada
Aircraft: PIPER PA-31, registration:
Injuries: 2 Fatal, 2 Minor.
The foreign authority was the source of this information.
On August 16, 2014, about 0830 hours universal coordinated time, a Piper PA-31, Canadian registration C-GKWE, impacted terrain during approach for landing at the Grand Manan Airport (CCN2), Manan, New Brunswick, Canada. One pilot and one paramedic were fatally injured; the second pilot and second paramedic sustained minor injuries. The departure airport was not known at the time of the notification. The intended destination was CCN2.
The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB). This report is for informational purposes and contains only information provided by the government of Canada.
Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:
Transportation Safety Board of Canada
200 Promenade du Portage
Place du Centre, 4th floor
Gatineau QC K1A 1K8
Canada
Tel: 819-994-3741
Website: http://www.tsb.gc.ca
Email: communications@bst-tsb.gc.ca
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