Pattern of injuries in a Fatal small aircraft accident.

ABSTRACT

Aircraft accident investigation is divided between human and machine factors. Human factors include intoxication, cardiovascular pathology, CO Poisoning, hypoxia, vertigo, operational errors. Machine factors are focused on impact based on speed, direction of travel, angle of impact and altitude. Autopsy data from individual aviation crashes have long been used in aviation safety research. The present study examines the injury pattern in occupants of a light executive jet aircraft crashed in bad monsoon weather, while on a flight, killing all eight persons on board including the two pilots. The bodies of the victims were brought to All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. All bodies were sufficiently intact and were easily identifiable. Detailed autopsies were performed on all the eight occupants, which yielded findings relevant to the cause of the accident. Our findings emphasize the need for autopsy on all aviation accident victims, especially pilots, as it is the only reliable method to find out the various factors contributing to an accident.