The value of postmortem examination of passengers in fatal aviation accidents

Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation recommens that the state conducting the inquiry into a fatal aviation accident should encourage internal autopsy by an aviation pathologist of those killed. Many countries recognise the value of such examinations on operating crew, but require the examination of passengers merely as aids to identification and to the investigation of the cause of death. This paper attempts to correct this misconception and to demonstrate the importance of examining passengers as completely as possible. The reasons for doing this can be divided into three broad groups. The first concerns accident reconstruction and involves a careful analysis of the injury patterns sustained by the passengers. The second is concerned with the evaluation of the safety equipment provided for passengers' use. The third deals with the multitude of medico-legal problems, both civil and criminal, that inevitably arise after a fatal accident.