Loss Of Control 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 Bert Botta is an aviation expert witness with over 35 years of experience as an International and Domestic Airline Captain, Corporate Jet Captain, and General Aviation pilot. He is retained by plaintiff and defense counsel to analyze and opine on aviation accidents and incidents involving pilot performance, flight crew conduct, FAA regulatory compliance, and human factors. He holds an additional 10 years in private practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor, providing rare dual expertise in behavioral analysis and accident reconstruction. AREAS OF EXPERT OPINION Captain Botta is qualified to opine on matters involving: • Pilot error, pilot judgment, and aeronautical decision-making • Standard of care for airline, corporate, and general aviation operations • FAA regulatory compliance — Part 121, Part 135, and Part 91 operations • Flight crew coordination, Crew Resource Management (CRM), and interpersonal conflict • Human factors, cognitive performance, situational awaren...

White Heath, Illinois

Mechanical Engineering, Equipment & Machinery - Mining Equipment, Construction Equipment, Heavy Equipment, Off-Highway Trucks, Large Mining Trucks, Hydraulic Systems, Exhaust Systems, Structural Analysis, Fatigue Failure, Bolted Joint Failure, Finite Element Analysis, Machinery Accident, Equipment Fire, Product Defect, Catastrophic Failure, Loss of Control

Eric Defend is a licensed Professional Mechanical Engineer (P.E.) with extensive experience in the design, testing, and analysis of large construction and mining equipment. At Caterpillar Inc., he has led engineering projects addressing critical safety, reliability, and performance issues in hydraulic, intake/exhaust, cooling, and structural systems for off-highway and large mining trucks. Mr. Defend specializes in identifying the root cause of complex mechanical failures, including those related to catastrophic breakdowns, warranty disputes, and safety incidents. His work has included conducting detailed failure analyses, overseeing prototype testing, leading design reviews for high-risk issues, and resolving major product reliability concerns. He has provided clear, data-driven findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders, making him adept at explaining complex engineering principles in plain language. Areas of Expertise • Heavy equipment design and failure analysis (con...