Trial of Global Positioning System Based Field Wreckage Plotting and Analysis Equipment Using Data from a USMC F/A-18 Aircraft Accident

摘要

On August 20, 1998 a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 aircraft crashed at Delamere bombing range in the Northern Territory. AMRL was invited to aid in the investigation by trialing the AMRL wreckage mapping and analysis equipment at the site. The equipment was used to plot and record all wreckage of interest. Maps of the wreckage were produced on site and handed over to the accident investigation team. These rapidly produced maps, along with the experience brought with the AMRL investigators with on site wreckage examination, greatly aided the accident investigation team to expedite recovery of the site and clarify many aspects of the accident To this end, the trial of the equipment was very successful. Following this trial, the data was used to explore the capabilities of other visualisation software, and its relevance to accident investigation. The results of this are presented during the discussion of the accident.