FAA Releases Training Records on Toxicology and Autopsy Procedures for Fatal Aviation Accidents
The Federal Aviation Administration disclosed 20 pages of training materials detailing how its laboratories and autopsy teams handle biological evidence and medical investigations following fatal aircraft crashes.
What happened
The FAA released training materials on October 12, 2023, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request for the course Mass Fatalities for Medicolegal Professionals (TDA403). The 20-page release comprises presentation slides dated October 1, 2014, describing procedures of the FAA's Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory (BSRL) and Autopsy Program Team, both located at the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) in Oklahoma City. The first portion covers collection, processing, and analysis of biological specimens, including specialized "TOX-BOXes," chain-of-custody documentation, specimen storage, and testing for alcohol, carbon monoxide, and drugs, along with quality assurance procedures such as blind analytical testing and laboratory accreditation. The second portion addresses the Autopsy Program Team's coordination with medical examiners, coroners, accident investigators, and the NTSB in obtaining autopsy reports, identifying deceased pilots, and reviewing medical evidence. The materials include an instructional case example of a light-sport aircraft accident where a subsequent autopsy identified severe coronary artery disease as the cause of death.
Context
The FAA's aviation safety responsibilities include collecting medical and pathological information to identify factors contributing to aircraft accidents. These laboratories and autopsy procedures support investigations conducted jointly by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board, as documented in a 2020 FAA technical report on forensic toxicology findings. The released training materials provide a historical record of the laboratory's documented procedures as of 2014, establishing the standards and protocols used in aviation accident investigations.