Jury faults mechanic in fatal Napa plane crash

When a private plane flown by Kenneth Gottlieb hit a hillside shortly after takeoff from the Napa County Airport six years ago, the National Transportation Safety Board ruled the fatal crash was the result of pilot error.

But a lawsuit brought in San Mateo County against a mechanic who worked on Gottlieb’s Cessna 182 has resulted in a record $13.3 million judgment for Gottlieb’s family members, who contended the crash was caused by a mechanical problem with the pilot’s seat.

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