APPLICATION OF COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUES TO A RAILROAD DERAILMENT

Crash investigation techniques utilized by human factors teams in investigating commercial airline crashes have been applied in the analysis of a railroad train derailment - crash. Passengers in cars that remained upright experienced very low deceleration forces and practically no injuries in stopping from a speed of 90 miles per hour over distances in excess of 1,000 feet. Four passenger cars and the diner were turned over on their sides and continued to slide after jackknifing. During the turnover and slide these cars were penetrated by railroad rails, cross ties, and a heavy compressor. Several passengers were ejected through windows and crushed beneath the cars. The 11 deaths and all severe and serious injuries occurred in these five overturned cars. An analysis of escape routes from an overturned railroad passenger car is presented and shows that it is difficult for an injured passenger to escape. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Civil Aeromedical Institute

  Oklahoma City, OK  United States  73128
• Authors:
  • Baden, G
  • Reed, W
  • Swearingen, J J
• Publication Date: 1973-1

Media Info

• Pagination: 37 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air transportation crashes; Correlation analysis; Crash investigation; Crashes; Crashworthiness; Deceleration; Derailments; Design; Ejection; Emergency exits; Escape systems; Fatalities; Injuries; Railroad cars; Railroad crashes; Railroads; Safety
• Identifier Terms: U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
• Uncontrolled Terms: Mortality rates
• Old TRIS Terms: Faa
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Data and Information Technology; Design; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00048135
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Files: NTIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 13 1974 12:00AM