INVESTIGATION OF THE 1987 INDIANAPOLIS-AIRPORT RAMADA-INN INCIDENT

On October 20, 1987, a military reserve aircraft lost power during a t ranscontinental flight and attempted an emergency landing at The India napolis International Airport. The pilot ejected and the disabled and pilotless aircraft struck a bank building. It then skidded across the street and entered the lobby of The Airport Ramada Inn where it explod ed. This incident was unusual in that the fatal injuries occurred in i ndividuals on the ground and not in the occupant of the aircraft- Seve n people were killed in the lobby area and two were (rapped in a laund ry where they died of smoke inhalation. A tenth person died of burns t en days later. Minor injuries were reported among four hotel guests, t wo firefighters and the Air Force pilot. A multiagency mass disaster-p lan had been formulated and rehearsed in preparation for the Panameric an Games, which had been held in Indianapolis in August 1987. A number of volunteers arrived before a security perimeter was established. Th ey began an undocumented removal of the bodies from the scene and were about to remove valuables for ''safekeeping'' when stopped by coroner s' office personnel. Fatalities resulted from smoke inhalation, burns or a combination. Bodies were identified by a combination of dental re cords, personal effects and visual means within 24 hours. The problems encountered in managing this disaster scene will also be compared wit h previously reported incidents.