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BE35 pilot reported he experienced a class a airspace incursion possibly because of the effects of hypoxia.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1304215 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201509 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZMP.ARTCC |
| State Reference | MN |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Bonanza 35 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Instrument |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40 Flight Crew Total 2100 Flight Crew Type 1600 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance |
Narrative:
I was flying VFR using oxygen through a cannula and GPS navigation and became confused and unable to restore my GPS receiver to the flight track page. During this time; the aircraft apparently climbed to 18;400 feet although I did not realize it at the time. I was using radar flight following and the controller asked me to descend. Once at an altitude under 10;000 feet; he told me that he as well as other pilots listening on the frequency believed that I had become hypoxic. I acknowledged that it was possible; but was regularly checking my oxygen flow which indicated sufficient for 18;000 feet.I received a call today from FAA notifying me that I had a class alfa incursion which surprised me because I have no recollection whatsoever of being told that by the radar controller. That pretty much convinces me that I was indeed hypoxic without realizing it; since the FAA representatives heard me notified on the taped conversation. At this point I don't really understand how it could have happened with the flow meter indicating as much as it did. I will inspect the cannula to see if there might be a leak somewhere downstream of the flow meter. I routinely inspect the cannula and hoses; but realize that I must inspect them much more carefully in the future. I always carry a spare cannula for just such a situation; but it never occurred to me that I needed it when I actually needed it; if it turns out to be the problem.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: BE35 pilot reported he experienced a Class A airspace incursion possibly because of the effects of hypoxia.
Narrative: I was flying VFR using oxygen through a cannula and GPS navigation and became confused and unable to restore my GPS receiver to the flight track page. During this time; the aircraft apparently climbed to 18;400 feet although I did not realize it at the time. I was using radar flight following and the controller asked me to descend. Once at an altitude under 10;000 feet; he told me that he as well as other pilots listening on the frequency believed that I had become hypoxic. I acknowledged that it was possible; but was regularly checking my oxygen flow which indicated sufficient for 18;000 feet.I received a call today from FAA notifying me that I had a Class Alfa incursion which surprised me because I have no recollection whatsoever of being told that by the radar controller. That pretty much convinces me that I was indeed hypoxic without realizing it; since the FAA representatives heard me notified on the taped conversation. At this point I don't really understand how it could have happened with the flow meter indicating as much as it did. I will inspect the cannula to see if there might be a leak somewhere downstream of the flow meter. I routinely inspect the cannula and hoses; but realize that I must inspect them much more carefully in the future. I always carry a spare cannula for just such a situation; but it never occurred to me that I needed it when I actually needed it; if it turns out to be the problem.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.