An analysis of civil aircrash statistics 1977-86 for the purposes of planning disaster exercises

Details of 473 aircrashes throughout the world for the period 1977-1986 were obtained from the Civil Aviation Authority. 114 occurred on or near and 359 away from airfields. In 188 there were survivors and in 285 none. On or near airfields it was more common to have survivors, and away from airfields more common to have none, yet crashes with survivors were more common away from airfields. In ten years there were only 3 crashes with more than 50 seriously injured live casualties. Acted out disaster exercises with mock casualties should not have more than 50 injured casualties, of whom not more than 20 should have serious injuries (i.e. need admission to hospital). The problems of crashes with much larger casualty figures should be worked through in table-top exercises.