Aviation Safety Expert Witnesses

Petaluma, California

Aviation & Aerospace, Accident Reconstruction - Aircraft Accidents, Airline, Corporate, General Aviation, Flight Crew, Business Jet Accidents, Flight Training, Aviation Safety, InFlight Emergency, Pilot Error, Maintenance Negligence, Crash Investigation, Aircraft Safety, Corporate Jet Accidents, CFIT (Controlled Flight Into Terrain), Loss of Control, Flight Attendant Accidents

Captain Botta brings over 35 years experience as an International Airline and Corporate Jet Captain grounded in a deep General Aviation Background. He also offers a unique dual perspective with 10 years in private practice as a former Licensed Professional Counselor, providing rare insight into the human factors behind aviation accidents and incidents. AVIATION EXPERT CASE RECENCY (current as of 3/26) • Regional Carrier CRJ900, hard braking event, resulting in passenger and Flight Attendant injuries • Regional Carrier, passenger dry ice injury • Wrong-surface event – ongoing investigation and expert opinion • Whistleblower case – major jet charter operator • Wrong-surface event • Wrongful death case • Pilot competency, pilot incapacity, and aeromedical issues (multiple cases opined) • Deposed twice within the past 5 years • SEAK Expert Witness Training completed • Listed in SEAK Expert Witness Directory Representative Commentary & Industry Insights June 2025: “Wrong surface ev...

Danville, California

Aviation & Aerospace, Engineering - Aircraft Accident, Aircraft Incident, Aircraft Crash, Plane Crash, Aviation Safety, General Aviation, GA, Aviation, Flight, FAA, NTSB, FSDO, AOPA, Pilot Training, Flight School, Aircraft Maintenance, Crash Forensics, Aircraft Safety, Cessna, Cirrus

Legal Eagles Aviation delivers clear, defensible expert witness support for aviation-related litigation. We work directly with attorneys to break down complex technical issues into precise, courtroom-ready insights that stand up under scrutiny. When aviation accidents occur, the outcome of your case depends on understanding what actually happened—and why. Our expertise spans aircraft systems, pilot decision-making, maintenance practices, and regulatory compliance. We analyze events methodically, identify causal factors, and communicate findings in a way judges and juries understand. We don’t speculate—we determine. Every conclusion is grounded in data, experience, and disciplined analysis. The result is clarity where others see confusion. Hiring the right expert shouldn’t slow your case down. We streamline the process, reduce uncertainty, and give you a reliable technical foundation from day one. If your case involves aviation, you don’t need multiple consultants—you need the ...

New Port Richey, Florida

Aviation & Aerospace, Transportation - Aviation accident, Expert witness, Aviation safety, Corporate aviation, Safety management, Aircraft accident, Flight operations, FAA compliance, Business aviation, Operational analysis, Accident investigation, Pilot error, Aviation risk, Pilot decision making, Part 91 operations, Human factors, Aircraft operations, CRM, Part 135

Kevin M. Alvarez is a corporate aviation Chief Pilot and aviation operations expert specializing in aircraft accident investigation, aviation operational analysis, and business jet flight operations. With more than 5,000 hours operating advanced business aircraft and over a decade leading corporate flight departments, he provides expert analysis regarding aviation accidents, pilot decision-making, FAA regulatory compliance, and aviation safety management. Mr. Alvarez currently serves as Chief Pilot for a Part 91 corporate aviation operation, flying advanced business jets throughout North America, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. His operational experience includes international flight planning, complex aviation risk management, and the implementation of safety management practices in corporate aviation environments. His analytical methodology is structured to satisfy Daubert reliability requirements, with full methodology documentation and sample report excerpts available...

Columbus, Indiana

Aviation & Aerospace, Human Factors - Pilot Error, Flight Training & Instruction, International Airline Operations, Human Factors, Crew Resource Management (CRM), Aeronautical Decision Making, Safety Management Systems (SMS), Aviation Safety, Military Aviation Operations, Airline Operations, Aviation Maintenance & Safety Programs

Elliott Lushin is a highly experienced aviation professional offering expert witness and consulting services in pilot performance, human factors, aeronautical decision-making, crew resource management, airline operations, flight training standards, and aviation safety program effectiveness. He brings a rare combination of high-performance military fighter pilot experience, hands-on aviation maintenance and safety program leadership, and major airline domestic narrowbody international widebody operations. In addition, Elliott has significant experience leading organizational excellence and leadership development programs for companies of all sizes, giving him unique insight into how leadership decisions, organizational culture, and systemic blind spots impact safety and operational performance. Attorneys value his ability to provide clear, credible analysis grounded in real-world operational and safety leadership experience. CIVIL ATP: MEL (A-350, A-320 family, B-757/767, DC-9/MD-88,...

New York , New York

Aviation & Aerospace, Artificial Intelligence - UAS, unmanned aircraft, autonomous systems, eVTOL, airworthiness, FAA certification, Surgical Robotics, Industrial Robotics, Safety Case Analysis, FMEA, flight test, Airfield Safety, hazard analysis, drone, Medical Device Safety, Product Liability, aviation safety, software safety, ADAS Failure Analysis, Insurance Coverage Disputes

When a case turns on whether an autonomous or safety-critical system was properly designed, verified, or certified, I provide the independent technical judgment attorneys need to establish or challenge that standard. I evaluate whether systems were reasonably built and validated for their intended environment : reviewing hazard analyses, safety cases, certification evidence, and the engineering decisions that determined whether a system was ready for real-world deployment. My opinions are grounded in direct program accountability across Lockheed Martin F-35 flight test, Northrop Grumman systems engineering, Boeing AI and autonomy architecture, and Anduril autonomous UAS operations — programs where getting these decisions wrong had real consequences. Available for litigation support, expert report preparation, deposition, and trial testimony in matters involving: Aviation and aerospace system failures, certification disputes, airfield safety, and airline operational negligence. Au...

Dublin, Ireland, New York

Aviation & Aerospace, Insurance - Aviation Expert Witness, Aviation Safety Expert Witness, Aviation Accident Expert Witness, Flight Safety Expert Witness, Aviation Insurance Expert Witness, Aviation leasing expert witness, Airlines Expert Witness, Aircraft Operator Expert Witness, Aircraft Operations Expert Witness, Aviation Engineering

Matthew has 30+ years of experience working within a number of areas of the aviation industry. He is currently employed as the Head of Flight Operations for an aircraft operator in Ireland working within the aircraft leasing industry. Additionally Matthew is the owner of MG Aviation Consultancy Ltd, which provides bespoke expert witness, consulting and auditing services across the aviation and legal sectors. Matthew is an accredited IS-BAH and IS-BAO auditor with IBAC (International Business Aviation Council) and also a qualified Senior and Lead Auditor covering all areas of aviation. Matthew has been instructed and has worked on a number of high profile aviation cases as expert witness, producing a number of expert witness reports including testifying within a number of jurisdictions.