Page:CAB Accident Report, Continental Airlines Flight 12.pdf/9

- 9 - 1.14 Survival Aspects

Although the accident occurred on the airport, rescue agencies had difficulty in finding the aircraft due to the heavy rain and dim light conditions that existed.

Two passengers and two crewmembers were reported to be injured at the time of the accident and one passenger was admitted to the hospital several days after the accident for a reported back injury. One passenger received a sprained wrist and bruised cheek and the other suffered scraped legs. The latter man was released from the hospital after several days rest. Both of these passengers were sitting in the area behind the wing where the fuselage fractured near FS 1040.

One hostess got up from her seat shortly after touchdown and received bruises on the head, arms, and legs when she was thrown to the floor. The second officer suffered a back injury when compressive forces were applied to his back during the final impact.

The aircraft occupants stated the first impact, when the aircraft slid into the side of the blast mound, was not severe. The second impact, described as severe by passengers, occurred when the aircraft fell into the road between the blast mound and the dike. The captain, however, compared the second impact to the jar received when an automobile tire hits a curb. During the first impact a stewardess who was seated in the lounge was thrown from her seat even though she reported her seat belt was fastened. She was not injured. All other persons aboard the aircraft remained in their seats throughout the crash.

There are 10 exits available in this aircraft for emergency evacuation. Two passenger entry doors, one forward and one aft; two galley service doors, one forward and one aft; four overwing emergency exits, two on each side; and two cockpit sliding windows, one on each side.

The flight deck crew were unable to open the door into the cabin and left the aircraft through the right-hand cockpit sliding window. The passengers and the cabin attendants left the aircraft through the forward galley service door, the forward overwing exit windows, and the aft passenger exit door. The evacuation was not timed but cabin attendants estimated that it took from 1.5-2.5 minutes to clear the cabin.

The door from the cockpit to the cabin could not be opened nor could the knob be turned. The Director of Personnel Services attempted to open the forward passenger entry door but was only able to move it six to eight inches due to interior obstruction and buckling of the floor. No attempt was made, by the crew, to open the forward galley door because the TV set from the lounge area had fallen over toward the door during the initial impact. This door opened easily during the investigation and one passenger reported that he left the aircraft through that door.

No attempt was made to open the two aft overwing exit windows despite the fact that a passenger was sitting beside the one on the right side. Both forward overwing exits were opened and used to escape from the aircraft. In addition to the 10 persons sitting in the compartment over the wing, a number of