Community psychological effects following a non-fatal aircraft accident

Following a non-fatal military aircraft accident, two of the authors interviewed the crewmen involved in the accident, their spouses, fellow squadron members and their spouses, and individuals from the fire crew and control tower on duty during the accident. A total of 37 respondents completed questionnaires which reported the presence of intrusive, avoidant, depressive/anxious, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Spouses reported more symptoms after the accident than their flying husbands. Intrusive symptoms were most common. Symptoms were correlated with various perceptions and experiences occurring prior to and following the accident. Several kinds of symptoms and experiences were significantly correlated with a perception of morale decline. This study suggests that even non-fatal aircraft accidents may have important psychological effects on those involved and on the surrounding community. Implications of these findings and recommendations for helping communities process traumatic events are discussed.