dr. cindy burr to answer the burning question, why do some people walkway from plane crashes that kill so many others? >> this is their unbraced dummy. tray table really low. >> reporter: she told us the data makes crystal clear that bracing for impact can be a lifesaver. what should do you? is. >> put your hand over, hands over. and just hold it. >> reporter: and that works? >> well, yeah, we were able to really compare that brace position versus unbraced, where we saw the unbraced dummy seem more vulnerable. >> reporter: the crash was a belly flop, slight sli nose first. the results showed that passengers near the front took the brunt of it. rows 7 and forward were considered fatal, 7a catapulted out of the plane. accident investigator tom barth analyzed now the impact rippled through the air frame. >> we measured the g forces, impact forces from the very front of the airplane all of the way to the back, front, cockpit and first class, completely destroyed, not survivable. just behind that but in front of the wing, 12 gs, serious potential for injury but is survivable. and then the midd

dr. cindy burr from wayne state university and dr. thomas bar. good morning, welcome to both of you. start with you, we talk about the importance of bracing. it's because of all the debris flying, right? >> well, it's the debris flying around, you're very vulnerable in that upright position. it's amazing how much blew into the plane. with the crash test dummy, the one in the braced position actually had lower risks. >> but also with smoke, with flames, to be down like that and even to be covered by a coat or one of the blankets on board can help protect you? >> exactly. that's exactly what we're seeing. >> it also showed that passengers sitting within five rows of the exit had a much higher chance of surviving. but the important thing is, because we can't all sit there, have a plan. if you know -- usually, it's not an unexpected event. you know you're about to crash. look around when you get on the airplane. look where the exit row is. count the rows from your row to the exit, have a plan once the chaos starts? >> exactly. because once that chaos starts because it's really hard to se

dr. cindy burr was in charge of the unlucky passengers.ata makes crystal clear that bracing for impact can be a life saver. what should you do? put your head -- >> put your head down, put your hands over. >> put your hands over your head. >> and just hold it. >> and that works? >> well, yes, it does. >> reporter: the crash was a belly flop slightly nose first. passengers near the front took the brunt of it. rows 7 and forward were considered fatal. seat 7a was actually catapulted out of the plane. many of the seat belted passengers who didn't bend over to brace had spinal injuries from jerking forward in their lap belts. >> we're going to put both of them on the sled and we'll show you what happens. >> reporter: she showed us something else in her lab, a simulated mother holding an infant on her lap. a familiar money saver for parents everywhere. after a relatively minor impact, the mother can't hold on. even though she's done the same thing as a parent, dr. burr says having a child on your lap simply isn't safe. >> there's no way. that im

dr. cindy burr says the crash dummies tell the story. bracing for impact could save your life. you do? >> head down, hand over. >> hand over your head. >> just hold it. >> reporter: that works? >> well, yeah, it does. >> reporter: the results show that passengers near the front took the brunt of it. rows 7 and forward were considered fatal. the forces were substantially less in the middle. and much less in the rear of the plane. though to dr. burr's surprise many of the seatbelted passengers who didn't bend over to brace had spinal injuries from jerking forward in their lap belts. >> a pretty severe impact. >> reporter: she showed us something else in her lab, a sim lated mother holding an infant on her lap, a familiar money saver for parents everywhere. after a relatively minor impact, the mother can't hold on. another critical tip, generally sitting within five rows of an exit gives the passeng the best os. because getting out fast is key. lessons from an aviation disaster that may actually save lives. neal karlinsky, abc news, detroit. >>> back of the plane, safest place to