Dallas Air Show Crash Trial Postponed

The trial date for a lawsuit in the Dallas air show crash that killed six people in 2022 has been postponed.

The jury trial, which was initially slated to begin Tuesday, has been delayed until June 2, 2026, according to online court records.

Background of the Crash

Two World War II-era aircraft collided midair on Nov. 12, 2022, during the Commemorative Air Force’s Wings Over Dallas Airshow at Dallas Executive Airport.

Terry Barker, Leonard “Len” Root, Curtis “Curt” Rowe, Craig Hutain, Dan Ragan and Kevin “K5″ Michels were killed, and a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Bell P-63 Kingcobra were destroyed.

None of the thousands of spectators watching from the ground were injured or killed.

Lawsuit and Allegations

The trial was set in response to a 14-page lawsuit filed by Root’s family in August 2023.

The 66-year-old retired pilot’s wife, Angela Root, and daughters Larisa Lichte, Kendra Hockaday and Rebekah Lowery filed the suit in Dallas County “to help ensure safety for pilots participating in air shows and to show that the tragic death of a beloved husband and father is an immense loss made even more traumatic by its preventable nature,” according to a written statement from the law firm representing the family.

The lawsuit alleges negligence by the Commemorative Air Force, American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum Inc. and American Airpower Heritage Museum Inc., including not properly monitoring the aircraft and intervening in a timely manner, and failing to establish proper safety management systems or conduct a proper preflight briefing.

Seeking Damages

The family is seeking more than $1 million in damages.

Investigation and Report

A report following a two-year investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board has since echoed some of the lawsuit’s allegations, largely blaming the crash on poor planning and inadequate communication, in addition to a lack of administrative planning to address “predictable risks.”

Reaction to the Delay

Kevin Koudelka, one of the attorney’s representing Root’s family, told The Dallas Morning News in a phone interview on Monday that the delay was “nothing we didn’t expect,” adding the case’s timeline was dependent on the release of NTSB’s final report.

“The report reaffirmed a lot for us,” Koudelka said. “We think it’s very clear who was at fault, and we will keep pushing forward.”

A lawyer representing the defendants did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Conclusion

The postponement of the trial date for the Dallas air show crash lawsuit is a significant development in the case. The family of Leonard “Len” Root, one of the victims of the crash, is seeking more than $1 million in damages and alleging negligence by the Commemorative Air Force and other organizations involved in the air show.

The National Transportation Safety Board’s report on the crash has echoed some of the lawsuit’s allegations, blaming the crash on poor planning and inadequate communication. The delay in the trial date is not unexpected, given the complexity of the case and the need for all parties to review the NTSB’s final report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happened during the Dallas air show crash?

A: Two World War II-era aircraft collided midair on Nov. 12, 2022, during the Commemorative Air Force’s Wings Over Dallas Airshow at Dallas Executive Airport, killing six people and destroying two aircraft.

Q: Who filed the lawsuit and what are they seeking?

A: The family of Leonard “Len” Root, one of the victims of the crash, filed a 14-page lawsuit in August 2023, alleging negligence by the Commemorative Air Force and other organizations involved in the air show, and seeking more than $1 million in damages.

Q: What does the National Transportation Safety Board’s report say about the crash?

A: The report blames the crash on poor planning and inadequate communication, in addition to a lack of administrative planning to address “predictable risks.”

Q: Why was the trial date postponed?

A: The trial date was postponed until June 2, 2026, due to the complexity of the case and the need for all parties to review the NTSB’s final report.