ABSTRACT
Aircraft accident defined as: ‘occurrence which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight, until such time that all such persons have disembarked, in which a person is fatally or seriously injured, the aircraft incurs damage or structural failure, or the aircraft is missing or is completely inaccessible’. Site safety is paramount and the site should be made free of explosive hazards, fire or excessive heat, smoke or fumes. Life support systems, aircrew equipment assemblies and survival equipment should be examined to determine their functionality. Injuries can be caused by whole body acceleration, impact with other components or contents of vehicle, impact with loose objects, body displacement. Seating plan is critical; passenger manifest should indicate seating positions, but passengers may have moved seats during flight. Crash survivability and human tolerance to impact can be analysed using: Container, Restraints, Environment, Energy absorption and Post-crash factors.
