TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2017//
TI  - Emergency highway landings in general aviation and the possible role of media reports
JO  - Aerospace medicine and human performance
A1  - Holzman, Emily
A1  - de Voogt, Alex
SP  - 497
EP  - 499
VL  - 88
IS  - 5
N2  - BACKGROUND: To examine the causes and factors of airplane landings on highways and the dangers to occupants of vehicles on the ground. <br><br>METHODS: The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board online database provided 133 accidents involving a highway landing dating from 2000 to 2013. Supplemental information was sought in online media archives, which reported on 53 of these accidents. Collisions with highway-related objects, other options for landing, and witness accounts were added categories extracted from the narrative statements and media reports. <br><br>RESULTS: Highway landings occur mostly due to mechanical failures, ineffective preflight or in-flight planning, and fuel exhaustion, in addition to a lack of alternate landing options for a pilot of a fixed-wing aircraft. Most of the landings (N = 108) lead to minor or no injuries at all. A significant proportion of 7 out of 19 collisions with powerlines resulted in a fatality, as opposed to other types of accidents. Collisions with motor vehicles (N = 29) caused minor (N = 23) and serious (N = 2) injuries to people on the ground. Main online media archives covered less than half of all accidents (39.8%). <br><br>DISCUSSION: While highway landings are not a recommended landing alternative, mitigation strategies should include a focus on avoiding powerlines and vehicles on the ground. Unfortunately, online media archives are not yet a consistent source of information for general aviation accidents.Holzman E, de Voogt A. Emergency highway landings in general aviation and the possible role of media reports. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(5):497-499.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2375-6314
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.4728.2017
ID  - ref1
ER  -