| Abstract: | The efficacy of hypnotic inquiry techniques with ten witnesses to six recent Naval aircraft accidents was evaluated in this study. Eight witnesses had been directly involved in an accident, five as mishap pilots. Interviews were conducted under conservative standards of practice after regular interviews had been completed and all depositions taken. Naval officers who accompanied the witness(es) to the interviews and concomitantly assisted the accident investigation boards served as the evaluators. Important information concerning the accidents was gained in the majority of the interviews. Secondary survival information of importance was obtained in a number of cases as well. None of the witnesses experienced psychological or career problems as a result of the interviews, and the hypnosis seemed highly therapeutic in some cases. Results suggest that hypnotic interview techniques with witnesses may be of great value in the investigations of certain aircraft accidents. |
