# Do people explode on impact when they fall from great heights? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 29, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667 "2013-05-29T23:40:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/21 "2013-05-30T15:19:50Z")
yeah, I have a copy of that 9/11 movie on DVD. Very moving. Also, the only video of the first plane hitting the first tower. IIRC from the search for MIA in Vietnam, someone mentioned that they could tell if the pilot died in the crash or not. If the pilot experienced a suddne stop from 600mph to zero, the sides of their boots blew out from the sudden pressure wave of bodily fluids. of course, a terminal velocity for a falling body on its own is about 100mph so as mentioned above, it depends on the hardness of the impact surface. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/22 "2013-05-30T15:27:37Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > IIRC from the search for MIA in Vietnam, someone mentioned that they could tell if the pilot died in the crash or not. If the pilot experienced a suddne stop from 600mph to zero, the sides of their boots blew out from the sudden pressure wave of bodily fluids. In a 600-to-zero vertical impact , the aircraft parts will obliterate any human being caught between them and the ground; you’re not likely to find any boots, intact or otherwise, in the wreckage. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/23 "2013-05-30T15:33:34Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > In a 600-to-zero vertical impact , the aircraft parts will obliterate any human being caught between them and the ground; you’re not likely to find any boots, intact or otherwise, in the wreckage. Of course, we’re talking about relatively softer impacts - wet rice paddies, etc. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/24 "2013-05-30T15:44:43Z")
The “Do cats always land unharmed on their feet, no matter how far they fall?” thread might also be relevant. [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1143/do-cats-always-land-unharmed-on-their-feet-no-matter-how-far-they-fall](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1143/do-cats-always-land-unharmed-on-their-feet-no-matter-how-far-they-fall) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/25 "2013-05-30T16:58:23Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > Of course, we’re talking about relatively softer impacts - wet rice paddies, etc. At 600MPH, “soft” doesn’t matter much. People who jump off of the Golden Gate Bridge into nice soft water (traveling at 110 MPH at best) tend to die from massive blunt-force trauma: the impact with the water shatters bones and crushes organs. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/26 "2013-05-30T18:12:20Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Also, in the very first documentary about the attack which aired about a month after and was simply called “9/11” (it was done by the two French filmmakers who were documenting a NYC firehouse and caught the first plane hitting the towers) you can hear jumpers hitting the pavement while they’re shooting in the lobby of one of the towers. The sound was incredibly loud, like a dumpster being dropped. So loud that the two filmmakers didn’t know what it was but the firemen, obviously jumpers being a familiar occurrence to them, did. I have that video. I’m pretty sure those startlingly loud impacts came from jumpers who were landing on the _roof_ of the lobby. Notice that the firefighters kept looking up when they’d hear one. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/27 "2013-05-30T19:18:24Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > In a 600-to-zero vertical impact , the aircraft parts will obliterate any human being caught between them and the ground; you’re not likely to find any boots, intact or otherwise, in the wreckage. Yeah. plus I’d think that in any scenario that a pilot would get killed in the crash or in the air, the results of a crash on the pilot’s body would be pretty similar. Am I right in thinking that a 600 mph crash wouldn’t really be something you’d feel as a pilot? One second it would be “OH crap!” and then lights out- you and your brain would be all squished up before any nerve impulses from your body could actually reach it, right? ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/28 "2013-05-30T19:51:49Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > from the essay “On Being the Right Size” by J. B. S. Haldane: > > /…/ [http://irl.cs.ucla.edu/papers/right-size.html](http://irl.cs.ucla.edu/papers/right-size.html) So no mad scientist will ever be able create giant insects to attack us all, if I understand Haldane correctly? Phew. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/29 "2013-05-30T21:35:51Z")
If you saw _Best in Show_, the scene with Larry Miller the “hostage negotiator” who describes what happens to a body of a person who jumps from a tall building (“They all jump!”) … basically the abdomen splits open and intestines spray out… Anyhow, fairly accurate, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![FallFast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba9def/32.png) [@FallFast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallFast)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/30 "2013-05-30T22:43:12Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > That “9/11” movie is very good, and was aired on network TV uncensored for the first couple of anniversaries. Haven’t seen it since. > > As for body parts being severed in a fall, anyone remember that news story some years back about two skydivers who collided during freefall, and one of them lost both legs this way? Both survived, BTW. If its the one I am thinking of they were with the Golden Knights and in 1994 they collided during a high speed crossing maneuver Sgt. Jose Aguillon was killed and Sgt. Dana Bowman lost part of both legs. ---
**Author:** ![Noel\_Prosequi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@Noel\_Prosequi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noel_Prosequi)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/31 "2013-05-31T02:14:32Z")
Did a death inquest once into the death of a parachutist whose chute failed to deploy. He landed in a cow paddock prone (can’t recall if on front or back). He was embedded about 6 inches into the ground. All bones broken, but his skin (perhaps supported by his jumpsuit) managed to contain all his organs - no bursting, splattering, etc. Still not a pretty sight. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/32 "2013-05-31T02:34:23Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I have that video. I’m pretty sure those startlingly loud impacts came from jumpers who were landing on the _roof_ of the lobby. Notice that the firefighters kept looking up when they’d hear one. Ah, did the lobby of one of the towers have a roof that extended out into the plaza?! Cause otherwise what roof was there to hit?! And I think the firefighters looking up would just be a reflex to the sound of any jumpers impacting. > [@md2000](#): > > yeah, I have a copy of that 9/11 movie on DVD. Very moving. Also, the only video of the first plane hitting the first tower. Actually, to nitpick, the is one other shot of it that was discovered much later. It’s from a security camera at a toll plaza someplace. It’s far enough away that it’s only a very tiny part of the upper corner of the image, but it’s clearly the first plane hitting. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/33 "2013-05-31T17:25:52Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Yeah. plus I’d think that in any scenario that a pilot would get killed in the crash or in the air, the results of a crash on the pilot’s body would be pretty similar. The “burst boots” was in the context of determining from the very old buried remains whether the pilot died on impact, or survived (parachute?) and was killed by local soldiers. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/34 "2013-05-31T17:50:29Z")
I’ve read news reports that victims in plane breakups lose their clothing during the fall. I don’t even want to imagine what happened when the hit the ground. There was a bad passenger plane breakup in Central America a few years ago. I can’t recall many details except that the victims were scattered in a wide area and most had lost clothing during the fall. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/35 "2013-05-31T20:27:34Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Ah, did the lobby of one of the towers have a roof that extended out into the plaza? I don’t know about the lobby itself, but the outdoor area immediately adjacent, separated from the lobby only by glass windows, was covered. Besides which, in the video, the sounds the firefighters react to are loud, resonating, bangs; not the sound one would expect from a mostly fluid human body hitting solid pavement. But I really don’t know what I’m talking about here, so decide for yourself-- The first instance in the video comes about 30 seconds into this section: \*[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1ulbi\_9-11-by-the-naudet-brothers-3-of-6\_news#.UakFA5xkltE](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1ulbi_9-11-by-the-naudet-brothers-3-of-6_news#.UakFA5xkltE) \* ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2013, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/36 "2013-06-01T14:12:19Z")
Regarding what happens when a plane breaks up: The Moore tornado was an F4 with a couple peaks at F5. Most the the damage you see is from winds 200-250 mph. A plane breaking up due a dive could be going 500-600 mph. So at least twice a fast. But remember that wind resistance goes up with the cube of velocity. So basically 8 times the force of the Moore tornado. Yeah, it’s going to do terrible things to humans. Probably best to die instantly rather than survive the breakup with a 20,000 ft fall as your future. Someone jumped off the four story library at my college. One of my profs happened to just be going thru the doors at the time into the library when the guy hit the ground behind the prof. Didn’t turn around, kept walking in. Knew what it was. Strange how we “know” certain sounds even if we haven’t heard them before. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2013, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/37 "2013-06-01T14:17:42Z")
I worked with a guy who had been a Marine. He said they were on an exercise involving parachuting (he was on the ground). He said that a Marine’s 'chute became tangled, and he deployed the reserve 'chute before the main chute had been jettisoned (or whatever you call it when you get rid of the main 'chute). The Marine’s body had a stream of red coming from it, like stepping on a catsup packet. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/38 "2013-06-01T15:02:08Z")
In regards to the covered lobby at WTC on 9/11: there is video of jumpers hitting the steel roof and just punching holes right through, like a bullet punching through a soda can. There are photos of a jumper who appeared to land on a side walk. Basically, it looked like their guts exploded out in a mess of intestines, and there legs crumpled messily (if I remember right, really regret viewing that many years ago). Worst I recall hearing about was someone in a BASE jumping wing suit who planned to fly through a bridge opening. He clipped the railing (?) and was messily cut in two. I’m sure similar things occur when jumping from a tall structure, depending on what you strike before contacting the ground. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2013, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/39 "2013-06-01T15:04:17Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > But remember that wind resistance goes up with the cube of velocity. So basically 8 times the force of the Moore tornado. This is incorrect: aerodynamic drag force scales with the _square_ of velocity, not the cube. The _power_ requirement scales with the cube (since power = force \* speed): this is why getting a car at 200MPH takes 8 times the power of a car at 100 MPH. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667/40 "2013-06-01T15:10:31Z")
Glory, glory, that’s a hell of a way to die. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-explode-on-impact-when-they-fall-from-great-heights/659667.md?page=3)