This is a book for anyone who is interested in why aeroplanes crash. Most people will have heard of the 'black box' flight recorder (which is usually orange!), but this book looks at the other lines of evidence that accident investigators can use to determine the cause of a crash. It concentrates on aircraft and engine failures as opposed to human failures such as pilot error or air traffic control errors. Various types of failure are discussed, and the engineering needed to understand them is explained simply and clearly - no background in engineering is needed to understand the explanations. It also explains how aircraft and engine design, manufacture and regulation is updated following the results of crash investigations (and will make you want to follow the airlines' recommendation to keep your seatbelt fastened at all times when you are in your seat!).

As the book is written by a professor of engineering from the USA, measurements are given in Imperial units and there is a little US bias in it,but don't let this put you off. It is informative and easy to read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.