FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-15/19

Title and Subtitle: Fatal Aviation Accidents: Fiscal Years 2009-2013

Report Date: November 2015

Authors: Hileman CR, McNeil CA, Rogers P

Abstract:
Introduction.This report describes the FAA's Autopsy Program Team's efforts to support accident investigation and research conducted within the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, including descriptive characteristics for fatal aviation accidents and incidents investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board for fiscal years 2009 through 2013.

Methods.Autopsy data utilizing the Medical Analysis Tracking Registry database was ordered into the following categories: date of autopsy acquisition, date of accident, region and state of residence, accident type, age, gender, pilot flight hours, aircraft type, and governing operation. Incidental medical findings described in the autopsy reports were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition - Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) and International Classification of Disease, Procedure Coding System.

Results.The Team reviewed 1,330 fatal accidents/incidents from fiscal years 2009 through 2013 and assisted with requests. Additionally, the Team obtained over 95% of autopsy reports for individuals involved in fatal aviation accidents, averaging 266 fatal accidents/incidents per year. The average age of a fatally injured pilot was 55 years, compared to the average age of 45 for the U.S. Civil pilot population. Accidents involving float planes were 2.63% of all fatal accidents. An analysis of 22 Medical Transport fatal accidents revealed 46% occurred during the repositiong phase of the flight. During the time frame of the study, 37 (31.35%) of pilots let their FAA medical certificate laspse in 118 Light Sport aircraft fatal accidents. Summaries of information collected from of fatal accident/incidents are included in the report.

Key Words: Autopsy, Fatal Aircraft Accident, Accident Investigation, NTSB, Death Statistics, Coroner, Medical Examiner

No. of Pages: 20