Unreported Medications Used in Incapacitating Medical Conditions Found in Fatal Civil Aviation Accidents.
Abstract
One of the major concerns in aviation medicine is sudden incapacitation of the pilot resulting in a fatal accident. The Office of Aviation Medicine (OAM) for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is charged with the medical certification of pilots. All pilots are required by OAM to receive a medical examination by a qualified AME before they can receive medical certification. The pilots must complete a Medical Certification Form listing all of their medical conditions and medications. The Civil Aeromedical Institute's (CAMI) Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory analyzes all fatal aviation accidents that occur in the United States. This paper reports the cases where drugs used in the treatment of incapacitating illnesses were found along with the frequency with which these drugs and illnesses had been reported on the pilots' medical examinations. Specimens were collected by pathologists near the accident and placed in evidence containers provided by CAMI. These samples were refrigerated and shipped by overnight air. Upon receipt the specimens were inventoried and accessioned for the analysis of drugs, alcohol, carbon monoxide, and cyanide. All data collected by the laboratory were electronically entered into a computer for future analysis. We identified those cardiovascular, neurological, and psychiatric drugs most likely to be associated with the treatment of potentially incapacitating illness. Pilots using drugs for neurological and psychiatric conditions would normally not receive their medical certification. A full review of the complete accident file was conducted in several of the cases reported in this research. The Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory received specimens from 2192 pilots for postmortem toxicology analysis between 1987 to 1992
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA284372
Entities
People
- Dennis V. Canfield
- Jerry Hordinsky
- Jo Fleming
- Stephen Verolnneau
Organizations
- Federal Aviation Administration