Beyond the Black Box: The Forensics of Airplane Crashes

Despite the appearance of the cover, this isn’t a book sensationalizing plane crashes, but an amazingly in-depth analysis of why some of them occurred.Professor Bibel explains the complex topics such as metal fatigue, explosive cabin decompression, and software errors, in easy to understand terms so the reader not only “gets it”, but can appreciate the efforts in keeping passengers in aircraft safe.He also adds a bit of history of how accidents are investigated such that the reader understands the enormous efforts by multiple agencies and teams to find the cause and keep them from recurring.If you’re curious about the “why and how” plane crashes occur, you’ll find this book informative, but also reassuring the next time you board an aircraft knowing what designers and engineers have done to make aviation much safer than ever.

(by this persons daughter)I was having a quarter life crisis (25 years old) when I had an epiphany one day. I always been fascinated by plane crashes, I had seen all the Air Crash Investigation (and Mayday) clips on plane incidents on YouTube.I decided I needed to go back to school...and train to become an air plane mechanic (an AP). If you can't read this book and enjoy it....then becoming a mechanic is not up your alley.But if you find the subject matter fascinating, and you end up going through 4 pens jotting notes, then perhaps becoming a mechanic is what you are destined for. This includes trying to talk to co-workers about how a 737 hull can fail, and still land safely, like what happened to South West April 2011, and trying to compare this incident to Aloha 243 on April 28,1988. Then comparing these two planes to the British Comet plane crashes.Now keep in mind one person who gave this book 4 stars, obviously works (ed) for the NTSB or FAA did criticize the authors description of how TWA Flight 800 came apart, but went on to say he thought that the author did and overall good job.The book even covers a brief, but exciting chapter on the perfection and testing of the ejection seat(and the passenger seat in commercial flight), the man who volunteered to be a human test dummy, and Murphy s law.You will never look at a plane in the sky the same way again, complain on how uncomfortable the seats are in coach, or think about ones career possibility's in the aviation world.

As an airline pilot and safety researcher, I ordered "Beyond the Black Box" as soon as it became available. This book is different from most books about aircraft accidents in that it focuses on the actual dynamics and mechanical processes of aircraft accidents rather than Human Factors: I found Dr. Bibel's book to be illuminating from a physical sciences viewpoint. The book uses very basic science and math principles (as well as simple experiments suitable for home or classroom use) to explain important points about these accidents.Some of these accidents are quite well known, even outside of the industry (United 232), while most have been forgotten by everyone other than those directly involved in aviation safety and engineering (the Comet decompression accidents, the British Midland 737 accident at Kegworth, England, etc.), but all are excellent examples of different accident modes. I have studied numerous accidents over the years, and have taught several aviation safety courses, and I think this book is the best introduction to the physical sciences and engineering involved in aviation accidents available to the public. It is written with both expert professional and interested observer in mind, and is easily comprehended; all math and science concepts are thoroughly explained, as are higher order concepts like metal fatigue and fracture analysis.I recently had the privilege of meeting Dr. Bibel and hearing him speak on aircraft accidents. He was very gracious and approachable, and I enjoyed both his presentation and his book greatly. This book is not written from a pilot's perspective, and as such contains some generalizations about flying procedures and techniques, but as an accessible scientific introduction to the science and dynamics of airplane accidents, this is an enjoyable and engaging book, and I recommend it without reservation.

I got this book after seeing it recommended by Atlantic writer and pilot James Fallows. I'm professionally acquainted with spacecraft safety assurance, but I still learned a lot from this book, which covers commercial passenger aircraft. There is a lot here about various crash mechanisms and their frequency, and how they progress. The author takes a high school physics approach to explaining, say, the physics behind hull ruptures due to pressure differentials, and sudden deceleration due to contact with the ground.Incidentally, due to the author's upbeat, "we can fix it" attitude, the book does not come off as morbid in the slightest. I have read it while flying, with no ill effects.

If you are an aviation "geek" and are fascinated by the science behind the investigation of aviation accidents then this is the book for you. It gets pretty deep into the physics of it and at times is more physics or materials science text than "book" but if you have a technical or science background you will appreciate the in depth explanations and technical depth of this book. Great way to get younger folks interested in physics and science.

I read this book after reading one from NTSB accident summaries in the 1990s, and one from a British author about various flying incidents that had survivors. This book actually references several of those accidents, going over the physics involved in crashes. The writing style is very fluid and easy to read. Even if you gloss over the equations, you will likely still learn something. It's a great way to study classical physics as well, and may be good for supplementing a physics class--this sure makes it a lot less boring.

Written for the layman in mind. Includes and explains the relevant scientific and engineering details related to commercial plane crashes.

Very informative book which in a simple (but not simplyfied) language explains all aspects of plane crashes from both a theoretical and practical angle, explaining the physics behind all the reactions. Also a lot of very explanatory illustrations.

Great book on Airplane incidents and lots of interesting info on the why it happened.Next time you'll listen to the flight safety briefing

A gift, so not read it !

Like many, I read a lot of airplane crashes, and watch the TV specials. My job as a geologist means I'm often a passenger in large and small aircraft. My training as an engineer means most of the failure modes and material behavior covered in the book were covered in my send year of training.The author brings the experience of flying, design, investigation, and physics and engineer together so nicely. It's as much about why planes so seldom crash. The principles of design of materials and the construction of aircraft are so clearly explained, and the case histories of what happens when we get things wrong so vividly detailed as to be memorable.Clearly one of the best books in the genre. Highly recommended.

It was for a gift and suits the purpose. Excellent delivery time.