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Byron Aviation Accident Attorney

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Attorney Michael Rehm — (800) 978-0754

Aviation Accidents at Byron Airport

Byron Airport (C83), operated by the East Bay Regional Park District, is a general aviation airport in eastern Contra Costa County. It is one of the few airports in the Bay Area operated by a regional park district rather than a city or county government. Byron serves a significant glider towing operation, aerobatic training, and sport aviation community. The NTSB has investigated five fatal accidents in the Byron area since 1982, with seven fatalities, and no serious-injury accidents in the dataset. The accidents involve aerobatic and homebuilt aircraft loss of control, a tow-plane accident during glider operations, and an inflight stall-spin.

Attorney Michael Rehm represents people injured in aviation accidents at Byron Airport and throughout Contra Costa County. The specialized aviation community at Byron — glider operations, aerobatics, experimental aircraft — raises distinct liability questions compared to standard general aviation airports.

NTSB Accident Record at Byron Airport

The following is drawn from the NTSB's CAROL accident database and represents historical investigation records only.

In October 2012, a Glasair III aerobatic aircraft crashed killing two (NTSB Accident Report No. WPR13FA022). The NTSB found the pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering, resulting in a stall and spin from which the pilot did not recover. Aerobatic flight places specific demands on both pilot proficiency and aircraft airworthiness; when a loss of control occurs during aerobatic maneuvering, the investigation examines both the pilot's recent training record and the aircraft's maintenance history for any condition that could have contributed to the departure from controlled flight.

In May 2020, a tow-plane accident during glider operations killed one (WPR20LA141). The NTSB found the tow airplane pilot lost control resulting from the glider pilot's failure to maintain position. Glider towing is a cooperative operation requiring coordination between two pilots under published procedures. When the glider pilot's failure to maintain position causes the tow plane to lose control, the glider pilot and the glider operator bear direct liability. In June 2000, a Beech G35 crashed from an in-flight loss of control and inadvertent stall (LAX00LA234), killing one. An April 1994 Bushby Mustang II experimental aircraft crashed killing two (LAX94LA190) after the NTSB found an abrupt pilot maneuver caused in-flight separation of the tail — a structural failure following a maneuver that exceeded the aircraft's limits.

Liability at Byron Airport

East Bay Regional Park District as Airport Operator

Byron Airport is operated by the East Bay Regional Park District, a public entity. Claims against the District for dangerous conditions at the airport are governed by Government Code § 835. The District is vicariously liable for the acts of its employees under Government Code § 815.2. Claims against the East Bay Regional Park District require a government tort claim under Government Code § 911.2 within six months of the incident. Missing this deadline can potentially bar a lawsuit. Tolling may apply — contact Attorney Michael Rehm to assess the specific timeline in your case.

Glider Towing Operations

The 2020 tow-plane accident (WPR20LA141) illustrates the shared liability structure of glider towing. Glider tow operations at Byron involve at minimum two operators — the tow plane operator and the glider operator — each of whom owes a duty of care to occupants of both aircraft and potentially to bystanders below. Civil Code § 1714 imposes a duty of ordinary care. The FAA's tow procedures under 14 C.F.R. § 91.309 set the minimum standards for tow operations. Violation of those standards by either pilot is evidence of negligence per se under California Evidence Code § 669.

Aerobatic Aircraft Structural Failures

The 1994 Bushby Mustang II accident (LAX94LA190) — in which an abrupt pilot maneuver caused in-flight tail separation — raises both pilot negligence and aircraft design questions. Homebuilt aircraft operating under Experimental certificates are not certified to the same airworthiness standards as type-certificated aircraft. When a homebuilt aircraft's structure fails during a maneuver the aircraft was designed to perform, the investigation must determine whether the pilot exceeded the aircraft's limits, whether the structure was built or maintained to design specifications, and whether the design itself was adequate for the maneuver being performed.

Filing Deadlines for Byron Aviation Claims

The personal injury statute of limitations is two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Claims against the East Bay Regional Park District require a government tort claim within six months under Government Code § 911.2. Missing the six-month deadline can potentially bar a claim. Tolling may apply depending on the facts.

Related Pages

Attorney Michael Rehm represents aviation accident victims in Byron and throughout California on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery. Call (800) 978-0754 to arrange a free consultation.

The information on this page is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts. The law can change — statutes are amended, cases are decided, and regulations are revised; nothing on this page should be relied upon as a statement of current law without verification. Deadlines and legal bars discussed on this page are general guides — whether a particular deadline applies, has run, or is subject to tolling, and whether a particular doctrine bars or limits recovery in your case, requires individual analysis. Contact Attorney Michael Rehm to discuss the specific facts of your situation.

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