Office of Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports
FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-78/31
Title and Subtitle: Agricultural aviation versus other general aviation: Toxicological findings in fatal accidents
Report Date: September 1978
Authors: Lacefield DJ, Roberts PA, Blossom CW
Abstract: Results from the toxicological study of samples from 174 pilots killed while engaged in aerial application and samples from 2,449 other general aviation pilots are compared. The incidence of alcohol in specimens was similar for ag pilots and other general aviation pilots but the blood levels of alcohol tended to be lower in the ag pilots. Carbon monoxide as an incapacitating agent did not appear to be a factor in aerial application operations. Evidence of the use of drugs or medications was less in ag pilots than in other general aviation pilots. Over half of the ag pilots had below normal cholinesterase levels, suggesting a continuing problem of acute and/or chronic toxicity from the pesticides being applied by agricultural aircraft. This finding suggests that better educational efforts could reduce the accident rate in this important segment of our agricultural activity.
Key Words: Aerial applicators, General aviation, Toxicology
No. of Pages: 5
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-78/31
Title and Subtitle: Agricultural aviation versus other general aviation: Toxicological findings in fatal accidents
Report Date: September 1978
Authors: Lacefield DJ, Roberts PA, Blossom CW
Abstract: Results from the toxicological study of samples from 174 pilots killed while engaged in aerial application and samples from 2,449 other general aviation pilots are compared. The incidence of alcohol in specimens was similar for ag pilots and other general aviation pilots but the blood levels of alcohol tended to be lower in the ag pilots. Carbon monoxide as an incapacitating agent did not appear to be a factor in aerial application operations. Evidence of the use of drugs or medications was less in ag pilots than in other general aviation pilots. Over half of the ag pilots had below normal cholinesterase levels, suggesting a continuing problem of acute and/or chronic toxicity from the pesticides being applied by agricultural aircraft. This finding suggests that better educational efforts could reduce the accident rate in this important segment of our agricultural activity.
Key Words: Aerial applicators, General aviation, Toxicology
No. of Pages: 5
Last updated: Friday, June 1, 2012