1983 — April 30, USN C-131 engine fire/crash, St. John’s River, ~Jacksonville NAS, FL– 14
— 15 Planecrashinfo.com. “1983. Accident Details. US Navy…Jacksonville, FL…4-30-1983”
— 15 US Dept. Navy. “Casualties: US Navy…Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured…”[1]
— 14 ASN. Accident Description. USN Convair C-131F, 30 Apr 1983, Jacksonville NAS, FL.
— 14 Baugher. US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (140053 to 145061). 11-7-2011.
— 14 Paris News, TX. “One Survives Crash of Navy C-131 Plane.” 5-1-1983, p. 1.
— 14 Tyrone Daily Herald, PA. “Search Continues…Victims…Navy Plane Crash.” 5-2-1983, 1
— 14 UPI. “2 Bodies Pulled From Jet.” Logansport Pharos-Tribune, IN. 5-3-1983, p. 3.
— 14 UPI. “14 Die in Navy Plane Crash,” Daily Herald, Chicago, IL. 5-1-1983, p. 1.
— 14 US Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. 837 F.2d 967. Susan Aline Spellissy… 2-17-1988.
Newspaper Articles – Chronological Order
May 1: “….The plane left the Jacksonville station at 12:04 pm EDT en route to the Guantanamo Bay Naval base in Cuba. Its engine caught fire five minutes into the flight… ‘At 12:04 the pilot radioed that tower that he had a fire in his left engine and was returning to the base,’ said a Navy spokesman. The plane crashed as it attempted to return to the naval station.” (Daily Herald, Chicago, IL. “14 Die in Navy Plane Crash,” May 1, 1983, p. 1.)
Sunday, May 1: “Jacksonville, Fla. (AP) – A Navy passenger plane carrying 15 people crashed into the St. Johns River on Saturday after one of its engines caught fire and exploded five minutes after takeoff from Jacksonville Naval Air Station.
“One survivor was pulled from the 10-foot-deep water. Divers scoured the wreckage in the murky, swift current and had recovered three bodies eight hours after the plane went down. ‘It is not expected that there will be any (more) survivors,’ said…a civilian spokesman for the base. One body was pulled from the wreckage, and the other two were found on the river bottom, he said….
“All those aboard were Navy personnel based at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba…
“The C-13l twin-engine turboprop took off at 12:04 p.m. EDT bound for the base, he said. The pilot radioed the control tower at 12:09 p.m. that his left engine was on fire and he was returning to the base, Dahl said. “He was approaching the runway from the east and landed in the water of the St. Johns River about 100 to 125 yards east of the runway in 10 to 15 feet of water,” he said.
“Witnesses said the plane was making an even approach to the runway with the engine ablaze, leaving a trail of smoke when a wing fell off and the craft rolled over and crashed into the water. ‘If he had another 15 or 20 seconds, he would have made it to the runway,’ said Rich Collot, a fireman on crash duty.
“The aircraft fell in four pieces, near four sets of signal lights mounted on pilings in the water, into a section where the river is about three miles wide. Witnesses said another piece fell into their neighborhood on the civilian side of the river. All but the top 10 or 15 feet of the battered fuselage was under water….” (Paris News, TX. “One Survives Crash of Navy C-131 Plane.” 5-1-1983, 1)
May 2: “Jacksonville, Fla. (UPI) — Navy and civilian authorities set up a giant crane on the St. Johns River today to remove the wreckage of a transport plane that crashed and killed 14 people. Two bodies still were missing. Divers searched the swift, muddy river Sunday until the current forced them out about 3 p.m. EDT. The crane was set up to pull the four pieces of the C-131 twin-engine turbo-propeller craft from the river and search for the bodies of the last two victims.
“The plane, en route to Guantanamo Naval Station in Cuba, with 15 people aboard, caught fire moments after takeoff Saturday and plunged into the river 125 yards short of the runway while making a desperate attempt to return to the, Jacksonville Naval Air Station.
“The crash was the worst military disaster in Jacksonville history.
“The only survivor, Melissa Kelly 30, an aviation electronics technician and the only woman on board, suffered multiple injuries and was in stable condition. The dead included eight passengers and six crewmen.
“Cmdr. Jerry Unrau, commanding officer of the Guantanamo-based Squadron VC-10, was named Sunday to direct an investigation into the crash. Authorities would not speculate what caused an engine to burst into flames.
“Four of the bodies were pulled from the river Saturday, and eight more were brought to shore Sunday. Divers had difficulty finding the bodies. ‘It is like putting a paper bag over your head and trying to swim in Jell-0 or pudding,’ Lt. Cmdr. Sam Falcona said.
“The plane, assigned to Guantanamo, which has 6,000 Navy personnel and dependents, makes the round trip to Jacksonville Naval Air Station every two weeks, Falcona said….
“The pilot radioed the control tower an engine was on fire, but before he could turn the plane around witnesses said the engine exploded. The left wing fell off, and the plane plowed into the river in a cloud of black smoke. The plane broke into four pieces – the fuselage, the cockpit and the two wings. Most of the bodies recovered Sunday were near the fuselage, Falcona said….” (Tyrone Daily Herald, PA. “Search Continues…Victims…Navy Plane Crash.” 5-2-1983, A1-2.)
May 3: “Jacksonville, Fla. (UPI) — The last two bodies of 14 people killed in the crash of a Navy C-131 transport plane were recovered from the St. Johns River. The plane, its port engine afire, crashed Saturday while trying to return to the Jacksonville Naval Air Station where it had taken off five minutes before….
“Petty Officer Melissa Kelly was the only survivor of the 15 Navy personnel on board. Civilian
firefighters who heard her cries for help pulled her from the river. Mrs. Kelly, 30, suffered multiple injuries, including a collapsed lung, and fractures of the pelvis, leg and ribs. ‘I guess the first question is why me. But I’ll worry about that later,’ Mrs. Kelly was quoted as saying Monday by her husband, James, a first class petty officer.
“Divers recovered the bodies of 12 victims during the weekend. Two more bodies were found Monday near the fuselage.” (Logansport Pharos-Tribune, IN. “2 Bodies…Jet.” 5-3-1983, 3)
Other Published Sources:
Baugher: “141010 (c/n 293) crashed St Johns River, FL Apr 30, 1983 after engine fire on flight from Jacksonville NAS to Guantanamo Bay. 14 killed.” (Baugher. 11-7-2011.)
Planecrashinfo.com, April 30, 1983: “Crashed into St. John’s River just shy of the Jacksonville Naval Air Station’s main runway. Shortly after takeoff, one of the engines burst into flames and the crew was trying to make it back to the air station.” (Planecrashinfo.com.)
USN: “US Navy plane crashes in St. Johns River, Florida, killing 15 passengers and crew. 1 May. 1983.” (US Navy. “Casualties: US Navy…Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured…”)
United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit: “The opinion in this case dated August 3, 1987 is herewith withdrawn, and the following opinion and decision is substituted therefor:
“This is an appeal by an injured passenger and by next-of-kin or the personal representatives of persons killed in the crash of a Navy airplane in the St. John’s River near Jacksonville, Florida from a verdict in favor of the defendant, Aviall, which had repaired the engine whose failure caused the crash, and from the dismissal on motion for summary judgment of their complaint against General Dynamics, the manufacturer of the aircraft.
- STATEMENT OF THE CASE
“These 14 personal injury complaints arose from the death of the crew and all but one of the passengers in a U.S. Navy C-131F transport plane on April 30, 1983, while attempting to make an emergency landing at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, following a fire in the left engine of the plane. Plaintiffs’ actions against Aviall were based on the contention that its predecessor, Cooper Air Motive, had negligently installed used or otherwise unauthorized piston pin assemblies in the aircraft’s left engine during an overhaul in 1976. The piston pin in No. 8 cylinder of the left engine of the plane failed shortly after takeoff, resulting in an inflight fire which caused the left wing to fall and the plane to crash.
“The complaint against General Dynamics is that General Dynamics had manufactured the aircraft in question and was liable for negligence and breach of implied warranty as well as strict liability for the alleged deficiencies of the aircraft.
“General Dynamics filed its motion for summary judgment, based on the Florida statute of repose, Sec. 95.031(2) Fla. Stat. (1985), since the aircraft had been delivered to the U.S. Navy in 1955 and the statute of repose barred any actions for product liability after a period of 12 years. The trial court granted the motion and dismissed the complaint against General Dynamics.
“Thereafter, the case went to trial against Aviall and the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendant. The plaintiffs then filed their motion for judgment n.o.v. or in the alternative, for a new trial. This motion was denied. This appeal resulted.
- STATEMENT OF FACTS
“In their effort to demonstrate that the fire causing the accident resulted from the insertion by Aviall of a used piston pin assembly instead of installing a new piston pin assembly during the left engine’s overhaul, plaintiffs introduced circumstantial evidence sufficient to have permitted the jury to find in favor of plaintiffs. However, the defendants introduced a substantial amount of evidence, seeking to rebut any inference which the jury could have made from plaintiffs’ evidence. No argument is made here that any of the evidence introduced by the defendants was admitted erroneously by the trial court, nor do the plaintiffs make any contention that any charge of the trial court was given in error. The only issue is whether there was sufficient evidence introduced at trial to support the finding of the jury.
“Essentially, this evidence consisted of the following:
- Plaintiffs’ Evidence
“It was undisputed that the fire was caused by the fracturing of the piston pin assembly in cylinder No. 8 of the left engine, a rotary motor containing 18 cylinders….The failure of the No. 8 piston pin unleashed the master rod, which tore open the No. 8 cylinder and then the two adjacent cylinders, Nos. 6 and 10. Oil spilled out, which ignited and resulted in an intense in-flight fire. The master rod also crimped the oil feathering line which interfered with the feathering of the No. 1 propeller which might delay the crews’ discharging the fire extinguisher bottles. The intensity of the fire here caused the wing to separate from the fuselage which, of course, caused the aircraft to crash.
“Plaintiffs’ metallurgical expert expressed the opinion that the fragments of the failed piston pin established that it failed in fatigue. There was evidence introduced by the plaintiffs that fatigue could result from “long time” use, that is, use for a longer number of flight hours than the number of hours it is intended or designed to serve. The proof was that at the time of overhaul, all of the pin assemblies had been in service for approximately 781 hours, a “low time” period.
“The plaintiffs’ evidence was to the effect that the defendant used only piston pin assemblies that were marked with the proper logo of Aircraft Certified Engineering, Inc. (hereinafter A.C.E.), which supplied the pin assemblies to Aviall, and there was opinion evidence from two metallurgists that the No. 8 pin could not have been new when installed in the left engine by defendant in 1976.
“The plaintiffs’ witness, Smith, the son of the owner of A.C.E., testified that the 17 piston pin assemblies that were recovered had not been manufactured by A.C.E. He based this testimony partially on the manner in which the pin assemblies were marked; he testified that they had been manually vibropeened, and that this was contrary to the method by which the pin assemblies were marked by Jackson Bar Products, the company that supplied the parts to A.C.E. He testified that Jackson Bar utilized the roll stamp method to mark the pins; that these markings resembled typewriting.
“The plaintiffs’ evidence also included the fact that piston pin assemblies had, on some occasions, been inspected, cleaned and reused by Aviall in engines for use in civilian planes, which engines were of the same characteristics as the Navy C-131F involved here, and that such activities were carried on by some of the same personnel who were engaged in overhauling the military engines.
“It is helpful at this point to quote appellant’s brief with respect to its contention that a used piston pin assembly was installed at the overhaul instead of a new assembly:
“Defendant produced a portion of its internal work instructions for D.P.I. which permitted the pooling of complete pistons and piston pins, [emphasis in original] and dispensed with the requirement for identifying the source engine by tag.
“This instruction, which was specifically applicable to R-2800 military engines, was dated June 7, 1976, seven days before the subject engine was inducted into overhaul.
“This work instruction is in direct variance with the contractual requirements and defendant’s assertions that the old pins were discarded and scrapped.
“Defendant tried lamely to explain it away.
“On the military R-2800 engines, cylinder stud assemblies were either reworked or replaced. However, pistons, piston rings and piston pin assemblies were 100% replacement items. The defendant claimed that for each group of 18 cylinders, 18 new pistons with new piston rings and pins marked consecutively 1 through 18, were assembled, placed in a box and sent to final assembly for installation in the correct cylinder of the appropriate engine.
“Defendant claimed that the piston pins utilized were taken from the bench stock in the cylinder shop, which in turn was supplied by requisitions drawn on the parts warehouse. The warehouse, in turn, only received piston pin assemblies from Kelly Air Force Base. However, documentation on this was sparse, and there was some evidence that the piston pin assemblies were in short supply at defendant’s facility. Defendant’s employees denied any recollection of this. No explanation was forthcoming of what was done with the “pooled” piston pin assemblies. It would seem fair to infer that at some point they got into bench stock.
“During the same time, defendant was also overhauling the R-4360 engine, engines for civilian customers, as well as individual cylinder assemblies. The military and civilian versions of the R-2800, as well as the R-4360, utilized the same piston pin assembly. The work was performed on the same assembly line at the same time by the same people in the same facility.
Piston pins for R-2800 engines were inserted in the pistons by the cylinder shop personnel, and in the pistons of the R-4360 engines by the final assembly shop personnel. Installation of R-2800 pistons and piston pins into cylinders and cylinders into engines was done in the final assembly shop.
“For many years, the P/N 202445 piston pin assembly had been an “on condition” part. This meant that at overhaul, the part was removed from the engine, cleaned, inspected and if it passed certain criteria was reused.
“Piston pins in the civilian engines defendant was overhauling were still “on condition parts” in 1976. Thus, these piston pin assemblies were removed from the engine, deplugged, cleaned, magnafluxed, and, if satisfactory, replugged, reinstalled and reused. Defendant had a supply of blank plugs on hand for this purpose. Defendant also had vibropeen tools located throughout the plant, which were used to mark engine parts.
(Record references omitted) (emphasis added).
- Defendant’s Evidence
“Defendant relied on the testimony of its metallurgist and of five other witnesses who had been present at the Aviall plant at the time of the overhaul. The metallurgist’s testimony as to the cause of the fragmentation of the pin was that the failure originated as a longitudinal crack which the witness testified could have resulted from faulty manufacturer or operational overstress on the part. The expert testified that such overstress included “hydraulic lock”, an occurrence where a cylinder is temporarily locked due to oil or fuel conditions, producing a heavy load on the piston pin, or “detonation,” where improper manipulation of the flight controls may cause premature and destructive combustion in the cylinder. There was testimony that these overstresses could cause a fatigue failure even in a new or “low time” pin and that such an occurrence might not even be made apparent to the pilot. There was also testimony that the longitudinal crack could have originated in an inherent manufacturing defect known as “linear inclusion” or a “longitudinal stringer.”
“To meet the plaintiffs’ testimony from which a jury might infer that the old pin which had been removed from cylinder No. 8 was reused after the overhaul, defendants produced testimony that whenever the company removed a piston pin assembly, it threw the parts into a 55 gallon drum and sprayed them with red paint so that they could not be used again. There was also testimony that there was “a separation in the plant there between civilian parts and military parts, by a wire fence with a gate and lock. Those parts were never exchanged or interchanged.” There was also testimony that the parts were never exchanged between the two classes of military and civilian workplaces.
“The assistant plant manager of the sub-assembly in the cylinder shop, in which the assembly was put together, testified that all of the parts were supplied by the government and that Aviall never used anything “except government supplied authorized piston pin assemblies.” He also testified that there was never a shortage in the parts. He had never “heard of anybody at the plant who was reusing used piston pin assemblies in military R-2800 engines.” He testified that the old piston pin assemblies were taken out of the military engines, “thrown into a 55 gallon drum and either sprayed with red paint as a scrapped item.” … “Usually they put salt or some other acid on them to make them corrode to where they wouldn’t be usable again.”
“Tom Spencer, who was in charge of inspecting government parts as they were delivered to Aviall, testified that there was “a separation in the plant there between civilian parts and military parts, by a wire fence with a gate and lock. Those parts were never exchanged or interchanged.” He also testified that he had never received “piston pin assemblies for the military R-2800 engines from any source except the military.” He testified further that all of the parts he received for such engines were “new and authorized piston pin assemblies.” Finally, he stated that he never knew of or saw “anybody using used or unauthorized piston pin assemblies in military R-2800 engines.”
“Reuben Trevino, who is employed by the United States government as an inspector of the overhaul facility, testified also that he was not aware of any shortage of piston pin assemblies and that the piston pin assemblies which Aviall installed in the engines “were newly manufactured pins.” He never saw or heard of anyone at Aviall using improper or unauthorized piston pin assemblies. He supported the testimony of Spencer that civilian and government parts were never commingled.
“Mr. Rojillo Rolando Hinogosa, who was the quality control supervisor for the cylinder shop, where the assemblies were completed, also testified that he was not aware of any shortage of piston pin assemblies and he was never aware of the use of used or unauthorized piston pin assemblies in any such engines. He concluded by looking at the paperwork for the No. 8 cylinder that new piston pin assemblies were used in that engine.
“Defendant’s expert testified that he had measured the 17 available pins of the left engine which had been in use 439.3 hours and that on average the wear on these pins appeared to be less than on the pins in the right engine, which had been used for something over 2,000 hours in flight. From this, he expressed the opinion that the 17 pins in the left engine were “low time” pins and that they were new when they were installed.
“Defendant also presented evidence which it contended would have permitted the jury to find that the loss of the plane was due to an intervening negligent act. This proof was in the nature of a showing that the fire control system built into the aircraft was inadequate because it activated the fire extinguishers and closed a necessary vent door with a hose which was vulnerable to fire damage. It is not necessary for us to consider this additional ground which appellee contends the jury could have found established a lack of causation of the loss of the aircraft.
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
“A. In reviewing the motion for j.n.o.v., this Court is bound by the decision of the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Boeing Co. v. Shipman, 411 F.2d 365 (5th Cir. 1969). There, the Court said:
On motions for directed verdict and for judgment notwithstanding the verdict the court should consider all of the evidence–not just that evidence which supports the non-movers case–but in the light and with all reasonable inferences most favorable to the party opposed to the motion. If the facts and inferences point so strongly and overwhelmingly in favor of one party that the court believes that reasonable men could not arrive at a contrary verdict, granting of the motions is proper. On the other hand, if there is substantial evidence opposed to the motions, that is, evidence of such quality and weight that reasonable and fair minded men in the exercise of impartial judgment might reach different conclusions, the motions should be denied, and the case submitted to the jury. The motion directed verdict and judgment n.o.v. should not be decided by which side has the better of the case, nor should they be granted only when there is a complete absence of probative facts to support a jury verdict. There must be a conflict in substantial evidence to create a jury question. However, it is the function of the jury as the traditional finder of the facts, and not the court, to weigh conflicting evidence and inferences and determine the credibility of witnesses. 411 F.2d at 375.
“B. The issue resulting from the denial by the trial court of the plaintiffs’ motion for new trial requires us to determine whether such denial was an abuse of the discretion of the trial court.
“C. The issue respecting the dismissal of the plaintiffs’ complaint against General Dynamics, based on the decision of the trial court that the complaint was barred by the Florida statute of repose, is reviewable by this Court as a question of law by determining what is the Florida law on the subject.
- DISCUSSION
“A. The appellants’ case was dependent upon their proof that when the defendant Aviall overhauled the 18 cylinder engine, someone in the cylinder shop inserted a used piston pin in the piston pin assembly which was later installed in the No. 8 cylinder. As noted above, the plaintiffs contended that the defendant’s predecessor had negligently installed used or otherwise unauthorized piston pin assemblies. However, there was no proof tendered to establish causation of the fire merely from any use of unauthorized pin assemblies.
“Appellants attempt to establish the use of a used piston pin assembly by proving the circumstances surrounding the overhaul to the extent that this was possible by an examination of the piston pin assemblies from the 17 cylinders which were available after the accident. No witness either for the plaintiffs or for the defendant was able to state by direct evidence that when this assembly was put together in the cylinder shop, the person handling the parts actually used a new or a used pin. Among the circumstances upon which the plaintiffs relied was some evidence that there was a supply of pins in what was known as the “bench stock.” While there was evidence by the defense that this bench stock was supplied solely by requisitions drawn from the parts warehouse and that the warehouse received piston pin assemblies only from Kelly Air Force Base, a military installation, appellants sought to show that on occasion, piston pin assemblies were in short supply at defendant’s facility. In their brief appellants overlooked the requirement that in considering a motion n.o.v. such motion must be considered with all reasonable inferences being considered in favor of the other party. They say: “It would seem fair to infer that at some point they [piston pin assemblies] got into bench stock.”
“With all of the other circumstantial evidence introduced by the plaintiffs, a jury might infer from such evidence that plaintiffs’ contention was correct. However, it is clear that if a jury might make such an inference, it might also draw the opposite inference. We have noted above that substantial evidence supported defendant’s contention. Thus, any inference which the jury might have drawn would be “reasonable” under Boeing.
“While the appellants attack the knowledge and credibility of the five supervisors or inspectors at the plant and of the expert metallurgist offered by the defendant, no motion was made to exclude any of this evidence, and the jury had the benefit of hearing the witnesses and observing their demeanor on the witness stand, and it is their sole duty to “weigh conflicting evidence and inferences and determine the credibility of witnesses.” Boeing v. Shipman, supra, at 375.
“As did the trial court, we conclude that this case is controlled by Boeing v. Shipman, supra. Thus, the trial court cannot be faulted for denying the motion for judgment n.o.v.
“B. Appellants claim that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion for new trial, because they contend that the court denied the motion for new trial on the same basis that it had applied to the denial of the motions for judgment n.o.v. This, of course, would be wrong. However, it does not appear from the trial court’s order that it applied the improper standard for the overruling of the motion for new trial.
“The entire order of the court dealing with this matter is as follows:
“This cause is before the Court on Plaintiff’s, BRENDA McCONKEY, Motion for Judgment N.O.V. or New Trial, filed March 27, 1986, Plaintiff’s LENORA A. BARNETT, Motion for Judgment N.O.V. and in the alternative Motion for New Trial, filed March 28, 1986, and Plaintiff’s, SUSAN ALINE SPELLISSY, et al., “Notice of Filing Adoption of Grounds,” filed April 3, 1986. Defendant, AVIALL, INC., has filed its opposition in response to these motions.
“Reviewing the evidence and all reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to Defendant, AVIALL, INC., the non-moving party, see Boeing Co. v. Shipman, 411 F.2d 365 (5th Cir. 1969), the Court concludes that Plaintiffs have not met their heavy burden of showing reasonable men could not reach a contrary verdict than the one for which Plaintiffs pray.
“Alternatively, as to Plaintiffs’, SPELLISSY, et al., “Notice of Filing Adoption of Grounds,” which will be construed as a motion for judgment N.O.V. and motion for new trial, the Court finds that said motion was untimely served. Rules 50(b) and 59(b), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Accordingly, it is now
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:
“1. That Plaintiff’s, McCONKEY, Motion for Judgment N.O.V. or New Trial be and the same is hereby DENIED.
“2. That Plaintiff’s, BARNETT, Motion for Judgment N.O.V. and in the alternative Motion for New Trial be and the same is hereby DENIED.
“3. That Plaintiff’s, SPELLISSY, et al., Notice of Filing Adoption of Grounds, which will be construed as a motion for judgment N.O.V. and motion for new trial, be and the same is hereby DENIED.
“From the order of disposition of these motions, it is apparent that the contention that the motions for new trial were improperly disposed of can apply only to appellants Barnett and McConkey, since the motion for new trial filed on behalf of the remaining plaintiffs was dismissed on the ground that it had been untimely served under Rules 50(b) and 59(b), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
“As to the motions for these two plaintiffs, it is not apparent that the trial court applied the wrong standard to its order denying the motion for new trial. We should not assume that an experienced trial judge intended to apply to the order overruling the motions for new trial the standard which it had set out above for overruling the motions for judgment n.o.v. The order, as issued, cites the appropriate ground for overruling the motions for judgment n.o.v. and then states that the Spellissy group of plaintiffs failed to “obtain timely service,” and then states: “Accordingly, it is now ordered and adjudged,” without indicating the specific reason for denying the motion for new trial. It did not state that the motions were denied for the same reason as the announced reason for denying the motion for judgment n.o.v.
“We therefore conclude that the trial court’s order denying the motions for new trial was not based on an improper standard. We also conclude that such a denial was not an abuse of the trial court’s discretion.
“C. The district court dismissed the complaints of all of the plaintiffs against General Dynamics, Inc., the manufacturer of the plane. The plaintiffs all appealed from that order. We have now been presented with two motions dealing with this part of the complaint. The first of these motions, filed on behalf of all of the plaintiffs except Lenora Barnett and Brenda McConkey, prayed for a voluntary dismissal of the appeal, the parties having stated that the case had been amicably settled. The second was a similar motion by plaintiff McConkey. We have previously granted these motions and the claims of these appellants have been dismissed. This leaves only the appeal of Mrs. Barnett pending against General Dynamics. During the pendency of these appeals, the Florida Supreme Court in Melendez v. Dreis and Krump Mfg. Co., 515 So. 2d 735 (1987), has resolved the issue raised in this appeal. It is clear that at the time of the accident here, the statute of repose was in effect and barred the suit against General Dynamics. Under Melendez, the later repeal of this statute did not operate retrospectively to revive the cause of action. The trial court properly dismissed the complaint against General Dynamics.
- CONCLUSION
“We therefore AFFIRM the judgment of the trial court in denying the motions for judgment n.o.v. and denying the motions for new trial. We also AFFIRM the judgment of the trial court dismissing the complaint of Lenora Barrett under the statute of repose.”
(United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. 837 F.2d 967. Susan Aline Spellissy [et al.] v. United Technologies Corporation, et al., Defendants-Appellees. No 86-3260. Feb 17, 1988.)
Sources
Associated Press, Jacksonville, FL. “One Survives Crash of Navy C-131 Plane.” Paris News, TX. 5-1-1983, p. 1. Accessed 3-3-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/texas/paris/paris-news/1983/05-01?tag
Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. United States Navy Convair C-131F (CV-340), 30 Apr 1983, Jacksonville NAS, FL. Accessed 3-3-2017 at: http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19830430-0
Baugher, Joseph F. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (140053 to 145061). 1-17-2017 revision. Accessed 3-3-2017 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries17.html
Planecrashinfo.com. 1983. Accident Details. US Navy Convair CV-340, Jacksonville NAS, FL, 4-30-1983.” Accessed 3-3-2017 at: http://www.planecrashinfo.com/1983/1983-19.htm
United Press International, Jacksonville, FL. “2 Bodies Pulled From Jet.” Logansport Pharos-Tribune, IN. 5-3-1983, p. 3. Accessed 3-3-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/indiana/logansport/logansport-pharos-tribune/1983/05-03/page-3?tag
United Press International, Jacksonville, FL. “14 Die in Navy Plane Crash,” Daily Herald, Chicago, IL. May 1, 1983, p. 1. Accessed 3-3-2017 at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=15761859
United Press International, Jacksonville, FL. “Search Continues For Victims Of Navy Plane Crash.” Tyrone Daily Herald, PA 5-2-1983, p. 1. Accessed 3-3-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/tyrone/tyrone-daily-herald/1983/05-02?tag
United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. “837 F.2d 967. Susan Aline Spellissy [et al.] v. United Technologies Corporation, et al., Defendants-Appellees. No 86-3260.” Feb 17, 1988. Accessed 11-18-2011 at: http://ftp.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/837/837.F2d.967.86-3260.html
Accessed 3-3-2017 at: http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/837/967/157336/
United States Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center. See “Casualties: US Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured in Selected Accidents and Other Incidents Not Directly the Result of Enemy Action.” Washington, DC: Washington Navy Yard. Accessed 3-3-2017 at: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/NHC/accidents.htm
[1] It seems clear, from most sources cited, that there were 15 people on the plane and that one, a woman, survived. Thus we are not using fifteen fatalities as the high estimate.