Retrospective analysis of fatal aircraft accident investigations during the period 1975-2004 : A reality check

Fatal aircraft accidents impose immense loss to the nation in terms of loss of precious life and costly equipment Each such accident is followed by a comprehensive investigation, which includes aspects ranging from the technical data to human factors. The aim of these investigations is to arrive at a logical sequence of events that could have resulted in the accident. The present study analyzed the medical investigations performed in the Department of Aviation Pathology at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Bangalore, during the period 1975 to 2004. Data collection for this study was done from available IAFF (MS) 1956 records. Data regarding gross pathology and histopathology findings in each case and toxicology results (if available) was tabulated and analyzed. A total of452 fatalities in 289 aircraft accidents (which included 343 pilots and 109 other crew/ passengers) were studied. Fighter aircraft of various types accounted for 75% of all fatal aircraft accidents. A majority of these occurred in mid-air (84 % ). Postmortem examination was performed on 89.8 % of fatalities. Military pathologists performed the autopsy in approximately 91 % of the accidents. Polytrauma with vital organ injury was the most commonly encountered gross pathology finding on post mortem examination. Traumatic pneumonosis (74.8%) and hemorrhage in vital organs (43%) were the common histopathological findings. Toxicological analysis did not reveal the presence of alcohol in any sample. Though most of the findings in the present study conform to the observations of previous studies, the occasional variance of findings necessitate consideration of suggestions to make the present system of medical examination of aircraft accident investigations more meaningful and practical.