Autopsy-based forensic reconstruction of fatal paragliding accidents: Phase-related injury patterns and mechanisms of death
Forensic Science International, cilt.388, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 388
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2026.113071
- Dergi Adı: Forensic Science International
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, CINAHL, Criminal Justice Abstracts, EBSCO Legal Collection, EBSCO Legal Source, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Criminal Justice Periodical Index, Zoological Record, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest), Biological Science Database (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Criminology Collection (ProQuest), Engineering Source (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Legal Collection (EBSCO), Legal Source (EBSCO), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Death mechanism, Flight phase, Forensic autopsy, Forensic reconstruction, Impact biomechanics, Injury pattern, Paragliding
- Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background: Fatal paragliding accidents are complex medicolegal events in which accident dynamics and fatal injury mechanisms must be reconstructed through integration of scene findings, witness statements, technical records, and autopsy findings. This study evaluated fatal paragliding accidents using an autopsy-based forensic reconstruction approach, focusing on flight phase, injury patterns, impact biomechanics, and cause-of-death assessment. Methods: This retrospective study included 33 fatal paragliding cases in Muğla, Türkiye, from 2012 to 2025. Data were collected from autopsy reports, scene investigation records, law enforcement documents, toxicological analyses, and clinical records. Evaluated variables included flight phase, accident mechanism, crash location, equipment information, rescue data, injury distribution, and cause of death. Phase-related patterns were summarized descriptively due to the small sample size and sparse subgroups. Results: Fatal events occurred during takeoff in 7 cases, en-route flight in 3 cases, and landing in 23 cases. Wing collapse and line entanglement were common initiating events. Thoracic traumatic lesions were observed in all cases. Head and neck injuries were identified in 25 cases, and abdominal or pelvic injuries were detected in 23 cases. Spinal injuries and extremity fractures were each identified in 18 cases. Intracranial findings were observed in 11 cases; hyoid bone and/or thyroid cartilage fractures were also observed in 11 cases. The autopsy conclusions in 23 cases described death due to the combined effects of severe multisystem blunt-force trauma, predominantly among landing-phase fatalities. Takeoff and en-route deaths more often showed localized fatal pathways, including massive intrathoracic hemorrhage, fatal abdominal hemorrhage due to organ rupture, cardiac tamponade, and drowning/asphyxia. Conclusions: Fatal paragliding trauma should be interpreted using an integrated forensic reconstruction model, not merely a list of injuries. This study identifies recurring autopsy-based injury patterns, notably a thoraco-cranio-cervical pattern in landing-phase fatalities. These findings support standardized documentation of body position, harness configuration, equipment interaction, and impact context in future investigations.