the forensic investigation of aircraft accidents

A Look at the History A Look at the History of the Forensic of the Forensic Investigation of Investigation of

Aircraft AccidentsAircraft Accidents

The History of Forensic The History of Forensic Aviation PathologyAviation Pathology

Dr Brian MitchelsonDr Brian Mitchelson

Who? What?Why?

WHO? WHAT?WHY?

In the BeginningIn the Beginning

Actual crash investigations Actual crash investigations started in 1915 in the Royal started in 1915 in the Royal Flying Corps in the UKFlying Corps in the UK

The start of aviation accident The start of aviation accident medical investigations began in medical investigations began in the early 1930s’ at the RAF the early 1930s’ at the RAF Central Hospital Uxbridge UK.Central Hospital Uxbridge UK.

The pioneer of this was an RAF The pioneer of this was an RAF Doctor: Harold WhittinghamDoctor: Harold Whittingham

A Short HistoryA Short HistoryThe RAF Central Laboratories moved from The RAF Central Laboratories moved from Uxbridge to RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire and Uxbridge to RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire and the RAF Institute of Pathology & Tropical the RAF Institute of Pathology & Tropical Medicine was founded in the 1940s’.Medicine was founded in the 1940s’.

Dr Whittingham became Sir Harold and Director Dr Whittingham became Sir Harold and Director of RAF Medicine.of RAF Medicine.

The Department of Forensic Aviation Pathology The Department of Forensic Aviation Pathology was formed in the 1950s’was formed in the 1950s’

This department provided expertise and training This department provided expertise and training worldwide for all future aviation forensic worldwide for all future aviation forensic investigations until the late 1990sinvestigations until the late 1990s

Origins and BenefitsOrigins and Benefits

Dr Whittingham found that in the early Dr Whittingham found that in the early days of flying many pilots were killed or days of flying many pilots were killed or injured by bad landings, where wheels injured by bad landings, where wheels falling off, or undercarriage collapse was a falling off, or undercarriage collapse was a common problem in the early bi-planes of common problem in the early bi-planes of the era.the era.

He wanted to reduce these injuries to the He wanted to reduce these injuries to the valuable aircrewsvaluable aircrews

A typical early aircraft crashA typical early aircraft crash

The ResultsThe Results

His investigations showed that pilots and His investigations showed that pilots and crew were being thrown around inside the crew were being thrown around inside the aircraft and injured by these bad landings.aircraft and injured by these bad landings.

This resulted in the first seat belts to be This resulted in the first seat belts to be fitted to aircraft in the late 1930sfitted to aircraft in the late 1930s

It took until the late 1950s before seatbelts It took until the late 1950s before seatbelts were fitted to cars and many years after were fitted to cars and many years after that before they were compulsorythat before they were compulsory

A modern accident:A modern accident:relatively low speed impactrelatively low speed impact

Much more substantial damageMuch more substantial damage

A high speed impact: A high speed impact: massive damagemassive damage

Why do we investigate accidentsWhy do we investigate accidents

There are three main reasons to There are three main reasons to investigate an aircraft accidentinvestigate an aircraft accident

1. 1. To properly identify the bodiesTo properly identify the bodies

2. 2. To find the cause of deathTo find the cause of death

3. 3. To learn from the accident.To learn from the accident.

W W WW W WThis is not the world wide web!!!This is not the world wide web!!!

WWho is the body?ho is the body?

WWhat was the cause of death?hat was the cause of death?

WWhy did it happen?hy did it happen?

What happens nextWhat happens next

The body is first examined, in situ if The body is first examined, in situ if possible, and photographed before possible, and photographed before removal to a mortuary (if one is available). removal to a mortuary (if one is available).

The clothing is examined, removed, The clothing is examined, removed, tagged and secured in a bagtagged and secured in a bag

The body is then examined for external The body is then examined for external woundswounds

An internal examination is then carried outAn internal examination is then carried out

A typical post-crash sceneA typical post-crash scene

The Forensic AutopsyThe Forensic Autopsy

What we do at the autopsyWhat we do at the autopsy

The body is examined externally and all The body is examined externally and all injuries photographed and mapped on a injuries photographed and mapped on a chartchartThe body is opened and internal injuries The body is opened and internal injuries and previous surgery is recordedand previous surgery is recordedSamples of tissue and fluids from the body Samples of tissue and fluids from the body are taken for laboratory examinationare taken for laboratory examinationThe body is then restored to as near The body is then restored to as near normal as can be achievednormal as can be achieved

PrioritiesPriorities – – 1 - The Pilot(s)1 - The Pilot(s)

Reasons for doing autopsies on the flight crewReasons for doing autopsies on the flight crew

1 1 CVS state – unsuspected heart disease CVS state – unsuspected heart disease or or other problemsother problems

2 2 Evidence of CO, alcohol, other drugs Evidence of CO, alcohol, other drugs legal or illicitlegal or illicit

3 3 Circumstantial evidence of epilepsy or Circumstantial evidence of epilepsy or suicidesuicide

4 4 To determine who (if anyone) was at the To determine who (if anyone) was at the controls.controls.

2 - Cabin Crew2 - Cabin Crew

The reasons for doing autopsies on The reasons for doing autopsies on cabin crew are those which apply to the cabin crew are those which apply to the pilots.pilots.

Plus:Plus:

To look at seat belt injuries to give an To look at seat belt injuries to give an indication of whether the accident was indication of whether the accident was anticipated and to improve seating and anticipated and to improve seating and restraint design.restraint design.

3 - Passengers3 - Passengers

For passengers, additional reasons are For passengers, additional reasons are the identification and the evaluation of the identification and the evaluation of accident forces prior to and on impactaccident forces prior to and on impact

Also evaluation of survivability and Also evaluation of survivability and safety equipment.safety equipment.

Raggy AnnieRaggy Annie

The VillainThe Villain

The MuppetsThe Muppets

HOWEVER!! HOWEVER!! There are more There are more

reasonsreasons

Medico - legal considerationsMedico - legal considerations

A-A- Civil LawCivil Law: who, when and how they : who, when and how they died: trauma vs. disease, negligence died: trauma vs. disease, negligence etc.etc.B-B-InheritanceInheritance LawLaw: possible : possible simultaneous deaths and legal rights simultaneous deaths and legal rights of inheritance for surviving family.of inheritance for surviving family.C-C- Criminal LawCriminal Law: illegal passengers, : illegal passengers, skyjacking, terrorism and sabotageskyjacking, terrorism and sabotage..

The AutopsyThe AutopsyWhat we look at and whyWhat we look at and why

The state of the body can vary from The state of the body can vary from relatively normal and intact: to burned and relatively normal and intact: to burned and dismembered.dismembered.

The injuries vary from relatively minor to The injuries vary from relatively minor to massive trauma.massive trauma.

The injuries might not fit with the extent of The injuries might not fit with the extent of damage to the aircraft.damage to the aircraft.

The identity of the body may not fit with The identity of the body may not fit with the known evidence.the known evidence.

The post mortemThe post mortem

A common but horrific sight A common but horrific sight following firefollowing fire

FactsFacts

The contents of a wallet/purse does not The contents of a wallet/purse does not prove the identity of the body they are prove the identity of the body they are found on.found on.

Visual identification is not always reliable!Visual identification is not always reliable!

Different countries and legal systems Different countries and legal systems require different levels of proof of death require different levels of proof of death and identity.and identity.

DNA typing is not as easy as on the TV.DNA typing is not as easy as on the TV.

ConclusionsConclusionsDoes the identity fit the body?Does the identity fit the body?

Are the injuries consistent with the cause Are the injuries consistent with the cause and time of death?and time of death?

Is the cause of death consistent with the Is the cause of death consistent with the accident?accident?

Was the accident survivable?Was the accident survivable?

Can anything be done to prevent it Can anything be done to prevent it happening again????happening again????

Some useful knowledge:Some useful knowledge:life cycles of flieslife cycles of flies

Diatoms in drowningDiatoms in drowning

Dental chartsDental chartsFor adultsFor adults

And Childrens teethAnd Childrens teeth

Upper Teeth Erupt ShedCentral incisor 8-12 mos. 6-7 yrs.Lateral incisor 9-13 mos. 7-8 yrs.Canine (cuspid) 16-22 mos. 10-12 yrs.First molar 13-19 mos. 9-11 yrs.Second molar 25-33 mos. 10-12 yrs.Lower Teeth Erupt ShedSecond molar 23-31 mos. 10-12 yrs.First molar 14-18 mos. 9-11 yrs.Canine (cuspid) 17-23 mos. 9-12 yrs.Lateral incisor 10-16 mos. 7-8 yrs.Central incisor 6-10 mos. 6-7 yrs.

Some AnomaliesSome Anomalies

Did everyone drown?Did everyone drown?

Survivors?Survivors?

That’s allThat’s all

Thank youThank you