Lawsuit blames airport for deadly jet collision

Survivor Sues Scottsdale Over Fatal Learjet Crash

It has been almost exactly one year since a Learjet owned by Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil veered off the runway at Scottsdale Airport and slammed into a parked Gulfstream G200, killing the pilot and injuring four others. Now the legal fallout has arrived.

Las Vegas resident Ashley Rosile, a passenger aboard the Learjet 35A on that February 10, 2025 afternoon, has filed a lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court against the City of Scottsdale, Southwest Jet Center, WW Aviation LLC, the Gulfstream's pilot, and Jet Pros. Rosile claims she racked up roughly $108,000 in medical bills and alleges the airport negligently allowed the parked Gulfstream to sit dangerously close to the runway and taxiways.

Valley residents who follow aviation know Scottsdale Airport is among the top 10 busiest single-runway airports in the world, handling around 166,000 takeoffs and landings annually. That volume makes where you park aircraft a pretty important detail.

The NTSB's preliminary report found the Learjet touched down with full flaps, experienced a left main landing gear failure, entered a left-wing-low attitude, departed the runway, crossed a taxiway, and struck the parked jet. The aircraft had no thrust reversers and the drag chute was never deployed.

Meanwhile, the Gulfstream's insurer, Allianz Global Risks, filed its own claim alleging the same improper parking issues and seeking recovery on the $5.5 million it paid out for the destroyed aircraft. That suit also argues the Learjet's operator, Chromed in Hollywood Inc., should have deployed the drag chute.

Pilot Joie Vitosky, 78, did not survive the crash. Neil's girlfriend Rain Andreani suffered multiple rib fractures, and another passenger and the co-pilot were also injured.

Scottsdale officials declined to comment on the pending litigation.

Sources: AVweb | Phoenix New Times | ABC15 | Ramos Law | Aviation Safety Network