Scene findings and autopsy features in a case of ultra-light aircraft crash

Abstract

Case report A 53-year-old man was taking off in an ultra-light aircraft from a small private airport. Only a few seconds later, as observed by eye-witnesses, the engine stalled and the aircraft crashed to the ground from a height of approximately 30–50 m. Upon impact the aircraft caught fire, with the pilot still in his seat (Fig. 1). The aircraft burnt for approximately 10 min before the fire could be extinguished using dry fire-extinguishing foam (Fig. 2). There was extensive damage, especially to the front of the aircraft. Apart from an investigation of the scene, as well as technical analysis of the wreck and remnants of the aircraft’s equipment, a medico-legal autopsy was ordered for clarification of the cause of death and to assist in a reconstruction of the events at the scene. At autopsy, the deceased showed third to fourth degree burns with intense charring of 70 % of his body surface and bilateral heat flexures of both elbow and knee joints. There was neither aspiration of soot within the trachea or bronchi, nor were there soot particles within the esophagus or stomach. The man had sustained a massive head trauma with ring fracture of the base of the skull around the foramen magnum as well as fractures of the posterior and medial fossae of the cranium, accompanied by fresh cerebral contusions. In addition, there were serial rib fractures to both sides, multiple lacerations of liver and spleen with 1,700 ml fluid blood within the abdominal cavity, and multiple fractures of the left joint of the hand. The left leg was considerably