Aeromedical Aspects of Findings from Aircraft-Assisted Pilot Suicides in the United States, 1993-2002
Abstract
All aviation accidents are tragic, but few are more avoidable than aircraft-assisted suicide. Aircraft-assisted suicide may precipitate as a result of clinical depression, marital or financial difficulties, or numerous other problems. While aircraft-assisted suicide attempts almost always result in pilot fatalities, they also have the serious and unfortunate potential to cause collateral damage to property and life. The Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) was interested in evaluating the epidemiological, toxicological, and aeromedical findings from pilots involved in aircraft-assisted suicides. Case histories, accident information, and the declaration of suicide as the probable cause in the aviation accidents were obtained from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Toxicological information was obtained from CAMI's Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory. Other relevant information was obtained from medical certification data systems. Over a 10-year period, 1993-2002, there were 3,648 fatal aviation accidents. Of these, the NTSB determined that 16 were aircraft-assisted suicides. Of these 16 accidents, 15 were from intentional crashing of an aircraft, and 1 was due to a student pilot exiting the aircraft while inflight. All 16 aircraft were operated as general aviation. All pilots involved in these aircraft-assisted suicides were male, with a median age of 40 (range 15-67) years. The pilot was the sole occupant of each aircraft that was intentionally crashed. Toxicological findings for 7 of the 14 pilots for which test specimens were available were negative for disqualifying substances, whereas 4 contained ethanol at various levels, 2 were found positive for benzodiazepines, 1 was positive for marijuana, 1 was positive for cocaine, and 1 was positive for venlafaxine. These limited data indicate that 50% of accidents classified by the NTSB as aircraft-assisted pilot suicide involve at least one, if not more, disqualifying drug(s).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA460820
Entities
People
- Estrella M. Forster
- James E. Whinnery
- Robert D. Johnson
- Russell J. Lewis
Organizations
- Federal Aviation Administration