FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-68/19

Title and Subtitle: Fatal injuries resulting from extreme water impact

Report Date: September 1968

Authors: Snyder RG, Snow CC

Abstract: Increased overwater flight has resulted in an increase in both military ejections and civil crash landings in water, 78 general aviation water accidents occurring in 1965. The objective of the study was to determine mechanisms of gross trauma in non-penetrating fatal water impact.

The method involved analysis of necropsy data on 169 fatal (52 female, 117 male) jumps from the Golden Gate Bridge. Impact velocities ranged from 106-112 ft/sec (32.31-34. 14 m/sec) and body orientation was mainly transverse or lateral. The most common mechanism of injury was crushing of the thoracic cage with resultant bilateral rib fractures and penetration of the vital organs (85.2 percent). Lung lacerations, ruptured livers, brain injury, and drowning were most frequent. In 17 cases, no skeletal fractures were found. Eight individuals, apparently relatively uninjured by the impact subsequently drowned.

These data reinforce previous work indicating human tolerance in water impact close to 116 ft/sec (33.53 m/sec) velocity, and body orientation is critical. Additional protection in transverse and lateral impact must be considered for increased survivability.

Key Words: Landing impact, aviation injuries, velocity, water, aviation accidents, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, skeleton, digestive system, drowning, reproductive system

No. of Pages: 10