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Beasley Firm attorneys Lane Jubb and John Gagliano represent the family of Bailey Maldonado, a 27-year-old flight instructor who was tragically killed on June 11, 2024, when the single-engine Cessna she occupied lost power and crashed near Gainesville, Texas.
In May 2026, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published its final investigation report. The NTSB found that the probable cause of the accident was the fuel pump manufacturer’s improper torquing of screws on the engine-driven fuel pump. Those records are public documents open for interpretation and fair reporting.
Our aviation team had already been investigating this case before the NTSB report came out. In our experience, it is exceedingly rare for the NTSB to issue a final report in a general aviation accident and not attribute any blame to a pilot (even when it’s obvious that no such blame should exist).
The fuel pump on this aircraft allegedly left the manufacturer with screws that were not tightened to the required specification. The NTSB found that the top five screws on the pump were so loose they could be turned with two fingers. The manufacturer’s own specs call for those screws to be torqued to 30 to 45 inch-pounds.
When the screws are not properly torqued, the seal on the pump’s diaphragm is compromised and air gets in. When air enters the fuel delivery system, the pump cannot do its job. Fuel pressure drops. The engine starves and power is lost.
On June 11, 2024, Bailey Maldonado and her student were practicing takeoffs and landings in Gainesville. Approximately one hour into the flight, on initial climb after their third takeoff, the engine lost power.
The torque markings the manufacturer applied to the screws were allegedly intact and unbroken – allowing a strong inference the screws left the manufacturer in that condition.
On behalf of Bailey's family, The Beasley Firm is investigating the roles of the following parties (among others) who may have contributed to this crash:
Tempest Aero Group, LLC and Aero Accessories, LLC are the entities believed to have manufactured and distributed the fuel pump installed on the subject aircraft. The investigation is focused on whether the pump left their facility with improperly torqued screws, whether that rendered the pump defective and unreasonably dangerous, and whether their quality control processes failed to catch the problem before it shipped.
Poplar Grove Airmotive, Inc. is an engine overhaul company that rebuilt the aircraft's engine in May 2019 and installed the Tempest fuel pump. Maintenance records appear to show the pump was never removed or serviced after that installation. The NTSB confirmed the pump had been on the aircraft for nearly five years before the crash.
The NTSB reports are not admissible as evidence in civil litigation – and for good reason. NTSB investigations are often flawed in more ways than one. It is important to review the publicly available documents on the docket which the NTSB used to support its conclusion
When aircraft parts fail, people can die. It’s critical that manufacturers and overhaul facilities in the aviation supply chain be held accountable when their quality control failures put defective components on aircraft. Pilots and passengers assume these parts are manufactured as designed and that quality control was performed adequately.
The Beasley Firm has been fighting for victims of aviation accidents for decades, including a $5.4 million verdict against the United States and a nearly $30 million verdict against Cessna in a defective product case. In just the last two years, The Beasley Firm has obtained nearly thirty million dollars ($30,000,000.00) in settlements from numerous lawsuits related to fatal airplane and helicopter crashes. Our aviation team has unmatched piloting and legal experience. Lane Jubb has recently obtained an $11.75 million settlement on behalf of the families of victims killed in a fatal helicopter crash in the Mojave Desert near Halloran Springs, California. John Gagliano is a former Naval Aviator who flew over 80 combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, holds FAA Airline Pilot, Flight Instructor, and drone certifications, and is Board Certified in Aviation Law by the Florida Bar. Our attorneys have sat in the cockpit, with thousands of hours of flight time.
We work alongside the best independent safety experts, engineers, and accident reconstruction specialists to build the strongest possible case for our clients. That has included accident reconstructionists like Donald Sommer, P.E., who brings over 50 years of experience and has investigated crashes including TWA Flight 800 and United Flight 232, and regulatory specialists like Rodney Doss, a former FAA Aviation Safety Inspector who performed the certification of Air Force One. We build teams with the expertise each case demands.
While this accident took place in Texas, our firm pursues cases in all 50 states and internationally. We have the resources and experience to go up against manufacturers, maintenance facilities, parts suppliers, flight schools, airlines, and operators of all sizes.
If you or a family member has been injured, or if you have lost a loved one, in an plane or helicopter crash anywhere in the United States, contact us today for a free attorney review.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.