Page:Civil Aeronautics Board accident investigation report, National Airlines Flight 2511.pdf/8

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

- 8 -

The body recovered from Snow's Marsh was identified as that of Mr. Julian A. Frank. The autopsy conducted on the body of Mr. Frank showed extensive avulsion (tearing away) of the lower extremities, and X-rays showed numerous foreign objects to be imbedded in its tissue. In view of the nature of the injuries to Mr. Frank, it was determined that further examination of the body was necessary to assure complete documentation of the injuries sustained. Accordingly, a second examination of the body revealed many additional foreign particles imbedded in the body and further documented the injuries sustained by this body.

Some of the more significant facts determined during the examinations of Mr. Frank's body are as follows:

  1. Irregular erythematous (reddened) areas of skin on the face.
  2. Dislocation of the right humerus without apparent fracture.
  3. Fragments of steel-colored wire imbedded in the superficial flexor muscles of the right forearm.
  4. Partial avulsion of soft tissue of the right thumb, index finger, and middle fingers with partial denuding of skin of the fingers and palmar surface of the hand.
  5. The left hand was extensively mutilated, with multiple skin lacerations and absence of the distal portion of all fingers.
  6. A small piece of brass was found imbedded in the muscle mass below the left elbow.
  7. Left fibula missing and left tibia amputated at lower third. Extensive mutilation and fragmentation of muscle tissue manifested by tears in a longitudinal direction with the loss of much skin.
  8. Right tibia amputated a few inches below the condyles at the knee and the fibula amputated below its head. Below the upper fifth of the thigh posteriorly, and below the lower thigh anteriorly, there was mutilation of the muscles similar to that found on the lower left extremity.
  9. X-ray examination revealed small opaque particles in the right wrist. These were found to be wire particles similar to those found in the right thigh.

Microscopic examination of the body tissues revealed other significant facts:

1. The right hand was found to have concentrated blackened areas which were also present on the fingers and wrist. The blackened areas consisted of granular particles of varying size and shape. The right palm had many particles imbedded in or attached to the epidermis.

2. The right anterior surface of the forearm had heavy deposits scattered over the surface which were similar to powder residues from a gunshot at close range both from microscopic character of the deposit and the way in which the particles were attached to the epidermis.