The Art of Post-Crash Survival

The why doesn’t matter. It could be catastrophic engine failure, a mid-air, a broken fuel line or a severe downdraft, forcing you to the ground. The punchline is you’ve crashed, off-airport and in a rural location. If you followed all the advice in last month’s article, “The Art of Crashing,” the aircraft’s impact was at a low angle, at a low speed and you didn’t have too much downward g-loading, minimizing the chance of spinal compression injuries. What was once a capable flying machine now is spread across a nice long debris field, meaning you stretched out the crash and dissipated energy over a good distance.

Key Takeaways:

• After a crash, prioritize immediate evacuation from the aircraft due to high post-impact fire risk, maintaining situational awareness, avoiding panic, and safely freeing yourself and passengers from restraints.
• Expedite search and rescue efforts by filing flight plans, ensuring operational ELTs, and carrying backup communication devices like cellphones or personal locator beacons (PLBs).
• Once clear of the wreckage, focus on basic survival priorities: signaling for help, establishing shelter, making fire, securing water, tending to injuries, and staying put near the crash site while awaiting rescue.

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