Fatal aviation accidents in Lower Saxony from 1979 to 1996

So far no national or regional studies have been published in Germany regar ding the number of fatal aviation accidents and results of autopsy findings . Therefore, we evaluated all fatal aviation accidents occurring in Lower S axony from 1979 to 1996. A total of 96 aviation accidents occurred in this period involving 73 aeroplanes. The crashes resulted in the death of 154 pe ople ranging in age from 19 to 68 years. The greatest number of victims in a single crash of an aircraft was (n = 7). Other types of fatal accidents w ere crashes of aircraft and helicopter while on the ground (n = 5), hot-air balloons (n = 2), parachutes (n = 10), hang glider accidents (n = 5) and t he striking of a bystander by a model airplane. Autopsies were performed on 68 of the 154 victims (44.2%), including 39 of the 73 pilots (53.4%). Some of the autopsies yielded findings relevant to the cause of the accident: g unshot wounds, the presence of alcohol or drugs in blood anti preexisting d iseases. Our findings emphasize the need for autopsy on all aviation accide nt victims, especially pilots, as this is the only reliable method to uncov er all factors contributing to an accident. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Irela nd Ltd. All rights reserved.