Aviation Accident Attorneys
Aviation Law Group PS is a leading law firm representing persons on the West Coast and throughout the United States, in aircraft accidents and other aviation-related cases involving serious injury and wrongful death. ALG has expanded its domestic practice nationally to include the West Coast and East Coast, with offices in Seattle, Washington, Honolulu, Hawaii, and Jupiter, Florida. With more than 35 years of experience practicing law and more than 45 years in aviation, ALG is proud of our highly credentialed attorneys, who are all also certified commercial pilots and two are certified mechanics. ALG has a long history of excellent legal work and results on behalf of hundreds of clients in the highly technical and complex area of aviation litigation. ALG attorneys are licensed to practice law throughout the United States, including Alaska, Washington, Hawaii, California, and Florida. We routinely handle cases throughout the U.S., and with local counsel we can bring our aviation experience to cases in all 50 States, Canada, and Internationally.
Kenmore Air Flight 140 (Sucia Island, July 23, 2026):
Our thoughts are with the passengers, the pilot, and their families after this week’s floatplane crash in the San Juan Islands. We are grateful that all aboard survived, and we are keeping the injured in our thoughts as they recover.
Aviation Law Group is closely monitoring the investigation. Our preliminary analysis can be read here. If you or a loved one was aboard, we are here to help. Contact us confidentially at info@aviationlawgroup.com or call us directly at 206-464-1166.

Bob Hedrick
Attorney 30+ years
Commercial Pilot
A&P Aviation Mechanic
20+ Years Professor of Aviation Accident Law

Casey DuBose
Attorney 10+ years
Commercial Pilot
Flight Instructor
Fluent Mandarin Chinese
Professor of Aviation and Space Law

Kerry Kovarik
Attorney 16+ years
Commercial Pilot
Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Former FAA Authorized Inspector

Chris Rusing
Attorney 20+ years
Airline Pilot & Instructor
Airbus 320 Series Captain

Brendan Keegan
Attorney 3+ years
Pilot 15+ years
Airline Pilot & Instructor
Boeing 737 First Officer
WHAT WE DO
Aviation Accident Law
General Aviation Accidents
General aviation involves private and recreational flight activity. It includes non-airline flights such as scenic flights, flight training, private flights, recreational flights, helicopter flights and operations, seaplanes, flying clubs, business flights, gliders, and a lot of other aerial activity. All of Aviation Law Group attorneys have extensive experience in many aspects of general aviation, from flying and instructing, to operations and aircraft maintenance. Since 1988, our lawyers have handled accidents involving nearly all aspects of general aviation activity for airplanes, helicopters, and fixed base operators.
Helicopter Accidents
Helicopter accidents often involve issues of external load operations such as longline or external load (link to external load), heli-lifting, heli-logging, and fire-fighting support.
Major Airline Accidents
ALG attorneys have represented numerous families who lost loved ones in major airline disasters, such as the January 31, 2000, Alaska Flight 261 accident near Point Hueneme, California, and the February 25, 2009, Turkish Airline Flight TK 1951 accident in Amsterdam. We have extensive experience with international airline liability law, including the Montreal Convention and its predecessor the Warsaw Convention, where issues of liability, jurisdiction, applicable law, and recoverable damages are complex. ALG attorneys have given many talks and written numerous articles in this specialized field of law. Mr. Hedrick also teaches the Montreal Convention as part of his Aviation Accident Law course at Seattle University School of Law.
International Coverage and Regional Expertise
Washington
Unfortunately, aircraft accidents occur nearly weekly throughout Washington. In addition, many aircraft accidents outside of Washington involve Washington manufacturers or operators.
Alaska
Because of the extent of aviation activity throughout the 49th and largest state in the U.S., Robert Hedrick obtained his attorney license in Alaska nearly 20 years ago in 2002 and is an active member of the Alaska Bar Association.
Hawaii
Aviation activity is unique in the Hawaiian archipelago because of its location and geographical topography.
Recent Aviation Law News
Where will the NTSB Look to Explain the Rise of Mishandled Landings at U.S. Airlines?
This incident is yet another in a series of incidents involving damage to airline aircraft while attempting to land.
Deadly Similarities: Overweight Aircraft and Icing Conditions in Recent Alaskan Caravan Accidents
After the Wright Air accident, the NTSB identified shortcomings in FAA regulations concerning weight and balance documentation for single-engine commuter operations under Part 135. The FAA has not taken action, and this regulatory gap persists today. As the Bering Air accident shows, these systemic issues are still unresolved by aviation authorities.
Why Passengers on Delta 4819 Should Seek Legal Review of Delta’s $30,000 Payment Offer
The $30,000 advance payment offer by Delta is a good start in the right direction, as long as passengers do not have to give up any of their rights for full and fair compensation in the future.
Does 5G Wireless Technology Really Create An Aviation Safety Hazard?
By Chris Rusing, Attorney, Aviation Law Group The answer is YES! 5G wireless technology is the planned successor to 4G broadband telecommunication cellular networks that provides cellphone network services to most current cell phones. Like 4G networks, 5G networks are...
Iceland Crash Raises Questions Of Flight Purpose And Flight Plan Before Accident
By Attorneys at Aviation Law Group PS, Seattle The flight has been called a “sightseeing flight”, yet its purpose was not just for the passengers to look out windows, but to film commercial content for Suspicious Antwerp, a Belgian streetwear clothing brand. The...
Montreal Convention Likely To Apply To Dominican Republic Helidosa Aviation Gulfstream Accident
The December 15, 2021 crash of a Gulfstream IV SP jet in the Dominican Republic is likely to give rise to the application of the Montreal Convention with regard to passenger claims against the operator, apparently Helidosa Aviation Group, says Robert Hedrick, an...
Tragedy Strikes: The Crash of Helidosa Aviation’s Gulfstream IV In Dominican Republic
On Wednesday, December 15, 2021, a Gulfstream IV SP jet aircraft crashed near the Las Americas Airport in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. The 6 passengers, 2 pilots, and 1 flight attendant, all died. The aircraft had taken off a short time before...
Southeast Aviation Crash Near Ketchikan Alaska: Another Avoidable Accident?
On August 5, 2021, a DeHavilland Beaver seaplane operated by Southeast Aviation out of Ketchikan, crashed in the mountains approximately 8 miles northeast of Ketchikan while on a Misty Fjords National Monument scenic flight. There were no survivors among the five...
The Rise and Fall of Civil Aviation in the Republic of China
In 1937, one of the first airlines in China - Eurasia Airlines (欧亚航空公司) - started to recruit flight attendants for the first time. Suitable applicants had to meet the following conditions: aged between 20-25 years of age, proper demeanor/appearance, height 1.5 m -1.7...
Alaska Helicopter Accident Reflects The Risks Of Heli-Ski Operations
On March 27, 2021, an Astar helicopter (Eurocopter AS350, now Airbus Helicopters) Crashed near Knik Glacier at 6:35 pm, approximately 50 miles east of Anchorage, Alaska. Five persons on board died, and one survived with serious injuries. The helicopter, operated by...
ALG Monitoring Boeing 737 crash in Indonesia
More than 60 passengers were on Sriwijaya Air Flight 182 from Jakarta, Indonesia to Pontianak, Indonesia, when it crashed into the ocean shortly after takeoff on Saturday, January 9, 2021. For unknown reasons, 4 minutes after takeoff in heavy rain the aircraft...
Two Pilots Die in Whidbey Island Crash
On November 11, 2020, a Cessna 177 RG, with tail number N34633, lost engine power and collided with trees near the runway at Whidbey Airpark (W10), in Langley, Washington. Tragically, the two pilots on board were killed in the collision. Aviation Law Group is...
Another Seaplane Accident
While a majority of seaplane activity occurs in the Northwest and Alaska, the rest of the country still experiences fatal seaplane accidents. That is just what occurred on October 4, 2020, in Queens New York. The Cessna 182 seaplane was moving fast and apparently...
Indian B738 Crashes Killing 18
Tragedy struck the Kozhikode as a B738 overran the runway over the weekend. Indian social media was quick to call the pilot a decorated hero who saved an aircraft with damaged gear and low fuel. However, as the investigation continues, it looks like none of the above...
Who’s At Fault For Mid-Air Collisions?
Introduction In this age of modern aviation technology and reduced flight traffic due to COVID, the recent spike in midair collisions, including three accidents in July, leaves many wondering why do mid-air accidents still happen, and who’s responsible for them....
Representative Cases
Airplane Mis-fueling Accident
A lineman working for local aircraft fueling operation pumped Jet-A aircraft fuel into the tanks of a reciprocating single-engine airplane, which required 100 octane low lead fuel.
Defective Carburetor Accident
In February 2013, following a 3-week trial, a Washington jury returned a verdict for $8.9 million in favor of our client against an aircraft engine manufacturer.
Regional Fly-In Accident
After a 3-week jury trial, Robert Hedrick obtained a $10.5 million verdict against a regional fly-in host and its national counterpart. The case involved failure to arrange for adequate fire and emergency response at the event, which caused a pilot to die needlessly.
Aircraft Design Defect
Last year, after a two-week trial, a 12-person jury returned a verdict in favor of the clients of Aviation Law Group, finding that an aircraft’s flight control system was defectively designed, which caused the deaths of a pilot and his passenger.
Firm Contact Information
If you or a loved one has been the victim of an aviation-related accident, please reach out to us. We are always willing to provide a free initial evaluation and meeting.











