Citation

Hinkes MJ. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 1989; 60(7 Pt 2): A60-3.

Affiliation

U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Fort Shafter, HI 96858-5480.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Aerospace Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2775124

Abstract

On Dec.12, 1985, a military charter DC-8 crashed shortly after takeoff at Gander, Nfld., Canada. All 256 aboard were killed, making this the deadliest U.S. military aircraft accident in history. The investigation team (consisting of forensic pathologists, odontologists, radiologists, anthropologists, graves registration personnel, and systems engineers) succeeded in identifying the remains of all 248 manifested passengers and 8 crewmembers. The unique contribution of anthropology necessitates that a forensic anthropologist be included in all phases of casualty resolution from recovery and initial processing to final evaluation, rather than being summoned as a last resort. This approach would yield immediate information on "unknowns" and would eliminate subsequent duplication of effort.

Language: en