Accelerations and Passenger Harness Loads Measured in Full-scale Light-airplane Crashes

In crashes up to an impact speed of 60 miles per hour, crumpling the forward fuselage structure prevented the maximum deceleration at the rear-seat location from exceeding 26 to 33 g. This maximum g value appeared independent of the impact speed. Restraining forces in the seat-belt - shoulder harness combination reached 5800 pounds. The rear-seat occupant can survive crashes of this type studied at impact speeds up to 60 miles per hour, if body movement is restrained by an adequate seat-belt -shoulder-harness combination so as to prevent injurious contact with obstacles normally present in the cabin. Inwardly collapsing cabin structure, is a potential hazard in the higher-speed crashes.