The Bibb County woman who watched her husband and son die last September in a Calera air show crash has filed a wrongful death suit against the plane’s owner and its late pilot’s estate.

Indian Springs pilot Clayton Reuse, John Smitherman and his 11-year old son Landon were killed September 23 after the Beechcraft Bonanza there were riding in ran out of fuel before the Wings and Wheels air show.

Pam Smitherman claims Reuse, the Birmingham Aero Club Safe Foundation and co-owner John Rogers was negligent in their safety procedures.

“They had a responsibility to the public to make sure the aircraft was safe,” said attorney Cole Portis, who is asking a jury to award damages.

Efforts to reach the defendants were unsuccessful.

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