ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – The family of a copilot who died in a plane crash in St. Charles County in January 2022 has filed a lawsuit alleging that carbon monoxide poisoning caused the crash, contrary to the findings of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The crash occurred on January 8, 2022, when a small plane traveling from St. Louis to Denver, Colorado, went down in a wooded area of St. Charles County just seven minutes after taking off. Both the pilot, Amanda Youngblood, and copilot, George F. King, were killed in the crash.
According to the wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of King’s family, a malfunction with the airplane cabin heater led to the release of toxic carbon monoxide gas, ultimately causing the pilots to become poisoned and the crash to occur.
The lawsuit targets the owner of the plane, Kalitta Charters LLC, King’s employer, AirNet II LLC, and Theodore J. Stephens, who allegedly installed the cabin heater just three days before the tragic flight. Neither Kalitta Charters nor AirNet II provided comment when contacted.
The NTSB’s investigation report, released in June 2023, attributed the crash to the pilot’s loss of control due to “spatial disorientation,” with no mention of carbon monoxide poisoning. The report stated that both pilots had limited experience flying at night.
Contrary to the NTSB’s findings, the lawsuit claims that toxicology testing revealed a severe level of carbon monoxide in King’s blood, suggesting poisoning. The lawsuit also outlines the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and presents a timeline leading up to the crash.
According to the NTSB, there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions that could have prevented the plane from operating normally. The report also highlighted the pilots’ lack of night flying experience, particularly for the pilot, Amanda Youngblood.
The lawsuit is now requesting a jury trial, but no hearings have been scheduled as of now. This legal dispute presents differing conclusions about the cause of the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of two experienced pilots.