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Concord Aviation Accident Attorney

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Attorney Michael Rehm — (800) 978-0754

Aviation Accidents at Buchanan Field Airport

Buchanan Field Airport (CCR), operated by Contra Costa County, is the primary general aviation airport serving the East Bay's Contra Costa region. Located in Concord, it handles flight training, corporate aircraft, charter operations, and personal aviation. The NTSB has investigated eight fatal accidents in the Concord area since 1982, producing twenty-four fatalities — the second-highest fatality total of any airport in the Bay Area dataset — and three serious-injury accidents.

Attorney Michael Rehm represents people injured in aviation accidents at Buchanan Field Airport and throughout Contra Costa County. The accident record at CCR spans instrument approach failures, engine failures on departure, and maintenance-caused engine losses — with the largest single-event injury total in the Bay Area dataset occurring at this airport in 1985.

NTSB Accident Record at Buchanan Field Airport

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

The most consequential accident in the Buchanan Field record — and the largest single-event injury total in the Bay Area dataset — is December 23, 1985, documented as NTSB Accident Report No. LAX86MA074: a Beech 95-A55 crash resulting in seven fatalities and seventeen serious injuries. A July 1984 Piper PA-31T crash (LAX84MA392) produced six additional fatalities. The NTSB probable cause findings for both the 1985 and 1984 accidents are not fully stated in CAROL records and require verification against the full NTSB board reports before reliance.

A December 2006 instrument approach accident (NTSB Accident Report No. LAX07FA059) killed four after the NTSB found the pilot failed to follow prescribed instrument approach procedures and did not maintain adequate airspeed on final. An instrument approach failure by a pilot who deviated from published procedures is a straightforward pilot negligence case — the published approach exists precisely because the terrain and weather at the airport require a specific flight path to be flown correctly. A September 1992 accident (LAX92FA374) killing two involved probable cause modified in April 2007 following new information, making the CAROL record for this accident particularly important to verify against the updated finding before any page reliance. A January 2024 accident (WPR24FA080) killed one after a fuel line separation caused total engine power loss on takeoff.

Among serious-injury accidents, a 2004 loss of engine power (LAX04FA187) was attributed to improper maintenance repair procedures and the use of improper parts — a direct negligent maintenance claim. A December 2011 accident (WPR12LA070) resulted in two serious injuries after the NTSB found the pilot failed to adequately inspect the aircraft prior to flight.

Liability at Buchanan Field Airport

Contra Costa County as Airport Operator

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

Negligent Maintenance

The 2004 Buchanan Field serious-injury accident (LAX04FA187) — in which the NTSB found a loss of engine power was caused by improper maintenance repair procedures and the use of improper parts — is a textbook negligent maintenance claim. 14 C.F.R. Part 43 governs the standards applicable to certificated aircraft maintenance. A mechanic who uses improper parts or procedures and signs off an aircraft as airworthy has breached both the regulatory standard and the common law duty of care under Civil Code § 1714. The January 2024 fuel line separation (WPR24FA080) also raises maintenance questions depending on when the aircraft was last inspected and what that inspection disclosed.

Instrument Approach Failures

The December 2006 accident (LAX07FA059) involved a pilot who failed to follow the prescribed instrument approach procedure at Buchanan Field. Published instrument approach procedures exist because the terrain and airspace geometry around an airport require a specific path to ensure obstacle clearance. A pilot who deviates from that path without authorization violates 14 C.F.R. § 91.175. Violation of a Federal Aviation Regulation is evidence of negligence per se under California Evidence Code § 669.

Filing Deadlines for Concord Aviation Claims

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

Related Pages

Attorney Michael Rehm represents aviation accident victims in Concord 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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