How to survive a bush plane crash



If you find yourself in a bush plane that is going down, here's what to do to ensure a higher chance of survival.

The evidence is heartening. Of 568 plane crashes in the United States between 1983 and 2000, more than 95 per cent of those on board survived. What can you do when flying in a bush plane to make sure you stay in the majority?

  • Check the door operation on the way into the plane so you can open it in a hurry if you need to.

  • If there are signs of trouble, don’t run to the back of the plane. Stay in your seat and tighten your seat belt. Every inch of slack in the belt means an  enormous increase in the g-force you’ll suffer when the plane slows down in a  big hurry.

  • Block the area in front of your feet with packs and extend your legs forward against them. You don’t want your legs snapping forward on impact.

  • Assume the brace position. If there is a seat in front of you, lean forward, cross your arms over the back of the seat and place your head against your arms. If there is no seat, lean forward with your chest on your thighs, cross your arms in front of your shins and grab onto your ankles.

  • Stay put until the plane has stopped moving. Sometimes planes bounce and there might be a secondary impact.

  • Exit the plane as quickly as possible and don’t stop until you’ve put at least 500 feet between you and the plane.

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