British woman files lawsuit over husband's airplane death

A British citizen sued on behalf of herself and her deceased husband against a museum group and a second deceased individual, seeking damages for wrongful death of her spouse.

Pauline Busby filed a lawsuit Jan. 6 in the Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas against the Lone Star Flight Museum, the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, both of Galveston, and the late Keith Hibbett of Denton, citing negligence in the death of John S. Busby.

According to the complaint, Hibbett piloted a vintage aircraft owned by the Hall of Fame and used for providing paid flights to visitors, in association with the Museum, and the Busbys purchased an excursion to celebrate their wedding anniversary. John Busby, who boarded the aircraft with the pilot Oct. 23, 2013, was allowed to take control of the plane and fly it on his own, the suit states and at approximately 11:35 local time, the craft crashed into a bay northwest of Galveston Island, killing both men.

Lone Star was negligent in its choice of aircraft, pilot, and operation, and violated FAA regulations, the suit states.

Pauline Busby seeks compensation for loss of companionship and suffering, attorney fees, expenses, and costs. She is represented by attorney Robert E. Ammons of The Ammons Law Firm in Houston, and The Law Offices of Daniel D. Barks in Alexandria, Va.

Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number: 15-CV-0008