Disaster Analysis
A forensic engineering investigation may well take months to complete, especially if it forms part of a major court case or is the principal evidence at a government inquiry into a disaster. However, it is common for the essential features of the failure to be discovered quickly in a matter of a few days with detail being filled in over a longer period. This will be important where there is a need, for safety reasons, to ground aircraft or close similar bridges.
The Shuttle explosion
Challenger flew nine successful Space Shuttle missions.On January 28, 1986, the Challenger and its seven-member crew were lost 73 seconds after launch. Read more about the Challenger disaster.
The Concorde crash
The blot on a technological record card: the Paris crash, the only accident involving a Concorde.
Railway investigations
The UK railways network is surprisingly safe - but when things go wrong, they can be disastrous - as with Hatfield.
Content last updated: 03/04/2002
