Two Napa Residents Suffer Deadly Injuries in Alaska Helicopter Crash
On Thursday, August 5, 2021, two Napa residents tragically lost their lives as the result of an Alaska helicopter crash. The two decedents were identified by authorities on Monday, August 9, as Mark Henderson, a 69-year old man, and Jacquelyn Komplin, a 60-year-old woman. In addition to the two Napa residents, four other individuals lost their lives during this tragic accident. The other decedents were residents of Illinois and Georgia, and Washington.
Accident Information
The Alaska Department of Public Safety (ADPS) released a report regarding the accident and stated that it took place in the morning outside of the small community of Ketchikan close to the southern Alaskan Coast in the Misty Fjords area. The pilot, 64-year-old Washington man Rolf Lanzendorfer, reportedly used the helicopter’s emergency beacon before the collision occurred. However, little is known at this time about the specific circumstances that caused the aircraft to crash.
Response
According to ADPS, multiple agencies assisted with response to the accident, including Alaska State Troopers, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad, and Alaska Wildlife Troopers. Reports indicate that inclement weather and low visibility made initial airborne search efforts difficult. Eventually, Coast Guard personnel spotted the crashed helicopter on a steep mountainside around 10 miles northeast from Ketchikan. Sadly, all six helicopter occupants had already passed away when responders reached the crash site.
Investigation
At this time, the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are handling an ongoing investigation into possible causes of the incident. So far, neither entity has reported any suspected contributing factors. In many cases, aviation accidents occur due to faulty aircraft parts or instruments that make it unsafe for even the best pilots to fly. When these kinds of issues contribute to accidents, parties such as the part manufacturer or aviation company that produced the aircraft can be held responsible for damages through wrongful death claims.
Wrongful Death Claims are Important
Families affected by deadly aviation accidents often feel overwhelmed by grief, and healing can take time. Tragically, it can be hard to focus on spending time with your loved ones and processing your emotions if the accident has affected you financially. Often, fatal accidents leave households without income or access to critical services.
To make sure that you have the financial security you deserve during an emotionally difficult time, it’s important to speak to a Napa wrongful death lawyer about recovering compensation through a wrongful death claim. A skilled attorney can help you understand what payments are available for your case and, if you choose to move forward with claiming compensation, will take care of everything that needs to be done in order to ensure you receive the payments you are owed from at-fault parties and/or insurance companies.
Additional Articles from Napa Wrongful Death Lawyer, Ed Smith
- Napa DUI Car Crash Leaves Two Injured
- Understanding Injury Attorneys
- Collision in Napa City Involves Five Vehicles
Napa Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Napa wrongful death lawyer. Families who’ve lost loved ones in accidents deserve help. To receive free, friendly advice regarding your fatal accident case, please get in touch with us at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400.
We’ve helped people in Napa obtain fair payments through verdicts and settlements for 38 years. Additionally, our clients have left us extensive reviews on these websites:
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