Great book that's hard to put down. It is too technical at times but still enjoyable to read and there are so many interesting facts to learn about.

As a pilot who has studied major air crash investigations over the years, this was a great read, with detailed information around the physics of aircraft accidents, backed by interesting statistics around various aspects of air safety today. However one aspect of the book that troubled me is Georges comments around TWA-800, specifically how he states that after the nose of the aircraft was blown off after the initial Centre Wing Tank (CWT) explosion, that the aircraft managed to fly on for a further 40 seconds before stalling. I am astounded that someone with so much aeronautical experience could make such a ridiculous statement, considering the physics involved. With the nose blown off, the CoG (Centre of Gravity) would have immediately shifted aft causing the aircraft to violently pitch up and stall within seconds. To say the aircraft merely flew on straight & level, or even climbed as per the preposterous video released (and subsequently withdrawn) by the CIA, is in my opinion disappointing considering Professor Bibel's extensive experience in this area.

With the exception of this particular comment, I found the book to be a very interesting read, with several case studies followed up with good diagrams, graphs and other illustrations complementing the text. It's a book that I highly recommend to anyone interested in understanding aircraft crashes in further detail to what's currently shown on recent TV documentaries of the same subject.

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.

George Bibel has written a fascinating book about what happens in the crashes of commercial airliners. He presents several case studies of airplane accidents, investigations and lessons learned. The book contains many drawings, graphs, and equations that illustrate his points.

These investigations have led to many improvements in airliner design. For example, passengers are often disturbed when they see the wings flapping in turbulence. That's intentional. The wings of a 777, for example, must bend upward 24 feet so it can pull out of an emergency dive before it can be certified to fly.

Planes can survive major blast damage. In 1986, a TWA jet withstood the explosion of a bomb. Four passengers were killed, but the plane landed safely, and 117 people survived. Other survivable occurrences include violent engine shuddering, sputtering flames and engine shutdown.

Some of the statistics surprised me. Of the 446 DC-10s ever delivered, 27 were involved in crashes that led to "total hull loss." Most of the deaths occurred in four of the crashes. Overall, 69% survived, and in 23 of the crashes, over 90% survived. Bottom line: you are five times more likely to be in a crash that is survivable than in a crash that isn't.

Getting out quickly is critical. In a 1989 crash the plane broke into multiple sections and a fireball erupted, but 185 of 296 people survived, including a baby placed on the floor as instructed by the flight crew.

Important lessons for passengers:

First, listen carefully to the on board announcements. Many are delivered quickly over sometimes faulty sound systems. Surveys show that over half of the passengers don't pay any attention to the safety announcements.

Second, keep your seat belt fastened throughout the flight.

Third, in case of an emergency landing or crash, follow instructions carefully and get out of the plane quickly.

I found this a clearly written, very useful review of current airline safety. George Bibel also maintains an excellent website to update the information in his book.

George Bibel has written a fascinating book about what happens in the crashes of commercial airliners. He presents several case studies of airplane accidents, from the 1931 crash that killed football coach Knute Rockne to the 1996 explosion of TWA Flight 800 shortly after takeoff from New York's JFK airport. Bibel describes aviation accident investigations, and analyzes the causes of accidents, from in-flight breakup to metal fatigue and combustion, and the lessons learned. The book contains many drawings, graphs, and equations that illustrate the findings from many investigations.

Bibel's book is comparable to Glenn Ellis's 1984 AIR CRASH INVESTIGATION OF GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT, but it is more up-to-date and focuses on commercial aircraft.

These investigations have led to many improvements in airline design. For example, passengers are often disturbed when they see the wings flapping. The wings of a large commercial jet have never fallen off. The wings of 777, for example, must bend upward 24 feet -- the flexibility required to pull out of an emergency dive -- before it can be certified to fly.

Planes can survive major blast damage. In 1986, a TWA jet withstood the explosion of a bomb. Four passengers were killed, but the plane landed safely, and 117 people survived. In 1988, explosive decompression caused by metal fatigue ripped an 18-by-14-foot hole in the top of the first-class section of a 737. One flight attendant was lost but the passengers were protected by their seat belts.

Other survivable occurrences include violent engine shuddering, sputtering flames and engine shutdown. Planes with only two engines can fly with just one. In 1965, a 707 landed safely after an engine fire had burned off 30 feet of one wing. In February 2005, one of the four engines on a British Airlines 747 shut down shortly after takeoff from Los Angeles, yet the plane still flew safely to England.

Flight crews are trained to get passengers out of planes quickly In 23 of the 27 DC-10 airplanes destroyed in accidents, 90 percent of the passengers survived. In a 1989 crash the plane broke into multiple sections and a fireball erupted -- 185 of 296 people survived, including a baby placed on the floor (as instructed).

Some of the statistics surprised me. 45% of crashes happen on landing, but landing crashes account for only two percent of all fatalities. Of the 446 DC-10s ever delivered, 27 were involved in crashes that led to "total hull loss." 69 percent of all passengers and crew members survived. Most of the deaths occurred in three of the crashes.

Three lessons for when you fly:

First, keep your seat belt fastened throughout the flight.

Second, in case of an emergency landing or crash, get out of the plane quickly.

Third, listen carefully to the announcements. Many are delivered quickly over sometimes faulty sound systems. (Surveys show that over half of the passengers don't pay any attention to the safety announcements.)

Altogether, I found this a clearly written, very useful review of current airline safety. George Bibel maintains an excellent website to update the information in his book.

I heartily recommend this book. Bibel gives lots of stories of airline crashes and diasters-a surprising number with reasonably happy endings. The stories themselves are fascinating and should be required reading for all pilots and flight attendants. But everyone should appreciate the stories and the care that the entire air industry puts into air safety-and much of the physics and engineering behind it. Very enjoyable read.