<SNIP>

     <<If a piece of an airplane falls through the roof of my house and
        kills or injures a member of my family should I hold the builder
        of my ~50 year old house responsible?>>

Sure, if at the time he built your house he knew there was the likelyhood
that sooner or later the tail section of a 747 was going to come through
your
roof, if there was some proven technology he didn't use in the construction
of your abode which would have mitagated your loss and, most importantly, if
he were still alive.

<SNIP>

Of course, you might want to consider a suit against the manufacturer of the
aircraft, or maybe the airline that was operating it rather than the
builder.  :)

Karl.