The rear-facing airplane occupant was fatally injured in a plane crash 

• What were the mechanisms for the head and neck injuries?

• Were the lap and shoulder belts properly worn?

• Could proper seat belt use have mitigated the observed injuries?

Our occupant dynamics analysis included an inspection of the accident plane, focusing on the interior of the plane for possible head impact locations, and the conditions of the seat belts and the seats.   Based on the accident reconstruction analysis, the documented injuries to the head and neck, and mechanical testing of the seat back of an exemplar airplane seat, the occupant dynamics analysis (using program MADYMO) provided the contrast of the injury outcome for an out-of-position occupant to a properly-restrained occupant. 

Properly restrained

• Lap belt limits vertical body excursion

• Head impacts padded headrest

Out-of-position

• Belt slack allows significant vertical body excursion

• Head impacts unpadded front seat back

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