Fatal Civil Aircraft Accidents (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Fatal Civil Aircraft Accidents: Their Medical and Pathological Investigation 2
Copyright Page 3
Table of Contents 8
Dedication 4
PREFACE 6
FOREWORD 12
Chapter 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION 14
ACCIDENTS: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS 14
HISTORY OF CIVIL AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION IN BRITAIN 15
ESTABLISHMENT OF A ROYAL AIR FORCE DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION PATHOLOGY 18
AVIATION PATHOLOGY IN OTHER COUNTRIES 19
SECTION I: PUBLIC TRANSPORT ACCIDENTS 20
Chapter 2. INTRODUCTION 20
ACCIDENT TRENDS 20
THE CASE MATERIAL 24
THE AIMS OF THE PATHOLOGIST'S INVESTIGATION 24
Chapter 3. NATURAL DISEASE IN THE OPERATING CREW 25
I—AS A MAIN CAUSE FOR AN ACCIDENT 25
II—NATURAL DISEASE AS A CONTRIBUTORY CAUSE FOR AN ACCIDENT 39
THE INCIDENCE OF NATURAL DISEASE IN AIRLINE PILOTS 40
Chapter 4. IMPAIRED EFFICIENCY OF A PILOT DUE TO INTOXICATION ALCOHOL 42
DRUGS 44
CARBON MONOXIDE INTOXICATION 44
Chapter 5. A NON-MEDICAL CAUSE FOR AN ACCIDENT 55
SABOTAGE 55
Chapter 6. PATHOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF EVENTS PRIOR TO AN ACCIDENT 62
Chapter 7. RECONSTRUCTION OF EVENTS AT IMPACT AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER AN ACCIDENT 65
SURVIVAL AND ESCAPE 65
SAFETY EQUIPMENT 71
Chapter 8. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 74
SECTION II: LIGHT AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS 75
Chapter 9. INTRODUCTION 75
ACCIDENT TRENDS 75
THE CASE MATERIAL 76
THE AIMS OF THE PATHOLOGIST'S INVESTIGATION 76
Chapter 10. NATURAL DISEASE IN THE PILOTS 78
CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE 78
OTHER CONDITIONS 81
SUICIDE 89
THE INCIDENCE OF ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY NATURAL DISEASE 90
THE INCIDENCE OF NATURAL DISEASE IN PRIVATE PILOTS 90
CONCLUSIONS 91
Chapter 11. IMPAIRED EFFICIENCY OF THE PILOT DUE TO INTOXICATION 92
ALCOHOL 92
DRUGS 94
CARBON MONOXIDE INTOXICATION 95
Chapter 12. RECONSTRUCTION OF EVENTS AT IMPACT 97
SAFETY AND SURVIVAL 97
ANALYSIS OF SURVIVAL ASPECTS 102
Chapter 13. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 109
SECTION III: GLIDER ACCIDENTS 110
Chapter 14. INTRODUCTION 110
HISTORY OF THE SPORT OF GLIDING 110
GLIDER ACCIDENT TRENDS 111
CASE MATERIAL 112
Chapter 15. NATURAL DISEASE IN GLIDER PILOTS 113
Chapter 16. RECONSTRUCTION OF EVENTS DURING AN ACCIDENT 124
THE CAUSE OF A STRUCTURAL FAILURE 124
A FAILED ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE IN FLIGHT 125
Chapter 17. SURVIVAL AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT 129
Chapter 18. GENERAL DISCUSSION 130
MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR GLIDER PILOTS 130
SECTION IV: THE FATAL AIRLINER ACCIDENT AS AN EXAMPLE OF MASS DISASTER: MEDICOLEGAL ASPECTS AND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE INVESTIGATION 134
Chapter 19. INTRODUCTION 134
THE MAJOR AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT IN PERSPECTIVE 134
Chapter 20. THE VARIOUS AUTHORITIES, OFFICIAL BODIES, AND GROUPS CONCERNED WITH THE INVESTIGATION OF AN ACCIDENT 136
THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION 136
THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY 138
THE LOCAL LEGAL AUTHORITY'S INQUIRY 138
THE POLICE AND THE INITIAL RESCUE OPERATIONS 141
LOCAL PATHOLOGISTS AND THEIR FACILITIES 142
THE RELATIVES OF THE DECEASED 143
THE AIRLINE 145
ILLUSTRATIVE CASE HISTORIES 145
DISCUSSION 152
Chapter 21. THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE BODIES OF THE DEAD—1 153
GENERAL COMMENTS 153
VISUAL IDENTIFICATION 155
PERSONAL PROPERTY 157
MEDICAL EVIDENCE 161
RADIOGRAPHY 162
FINGER-PRINTS 163
SEROLOGY 164
Chapter 22. THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE DEAD—II 165
DENTAL EVIDENCE 165
INTRODUCTION 165
DENTAL NOMENCLATURE 166
COMPARISON OF DENTAL RECORDS WITH DENTAL EVIDENCE IN CADAVERS 167
INCONSISTENCIES BETWEEN THE CHART OF A KNOWN PERSON AND THE FINDINGS IN A CADAVER 170
DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED WITH MOLARS 174
RECENT EXTRACTIONS 175
ANATOMICAL ABNORMALITIES 175
DISTINCTIVE PROSTHESES AND RESTORATIONS 176
DENTAL RADIOGRAPHS 180
DENTAL EVIDENCE OF AGE 183
COINCIDENCE OF UNUSUAL FINDINGS IN TWO BODIES 184
CONCLUSIONS 185
Chapter 23. THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE DEAD—III 186
PROCESS OF IDENTIFICATION BY EXCLUSION 186
THE COUNT OF THE BODIES RECOVERED 188
THE ORGANIZATION OF AN INFORMATION SERVICE 189
MISCELLANEOUS TECHNIQUES IN THE WORK OF IDENTIFICATION 192
Chapter 24. CERTIFICATION OF DEATH AND THE DISPOSAL OF THE DECEASED 197
Chapter 25. FINAL CONCLUSIONS 199
APPENDIX: GLIDING: DETAILED STATISTICS 1950-68 202
REFERENCES 206
INDEX 216