FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-20/13

Title and Subtitle: Drug and Alcohol - Forensic Toxicology Annual Report 2016

Report Date: December 2020

Authors: Cliburn K, Craft K, Hunn H, Thompson K, Ritter R, Saenz S, Barrett J, Angier M, Caldwell D, Griffin A, Hickerson J, Hileman C, Lewis R, Soper J, Williamson K, Kemp P

Abstract: The Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory (BSRL) is a branch of the Aerospace Medical Research Division that includes three teams focused on improving aviation safety through accident investigation. The Autopsy Program Team is an operational team that collects, manages, and maintains all autopsy records from the investigation of fatal aircraft accidents in the United States and supports the aeromedical review of these accidents. The Biochemistry and Forensic Toxicology teams conduct research on accident fatalities and serve as the primary national site for toxicology testing of federal agencies, including the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

In 2016, the BSRL received 307 cases from accidents in various modes of transportation including aviation, highway, marine, and rail. The laboratory received biological specimens from 22 incidents in which the pilot, driver, or primary operator was nonfatal. Toxicological analysis was performed on 296 cases, 19 of which were analyzed only for Carboxyhemoglobin. Of the 277 cases that were analyzed for drugs, 122 were negative and 155 were positive for at least one drug.

This report contains widely requested data on the toxicological findings of the cases handled by the BSRL. This report includes comparisons of data over a five-year period. The aerospace community, including FAA leadership, NTSB personnel, aerospace researchers, forensic toxicologists, and the public will use the findings and trends of this report to assess transportation safety.

Key Words: Forensic Toxicology, Postmortem Toxicology, Civil Aviation Accidents, Surface Accidents, Drugs, Ethanol

No. of Pages: 56