Small aircraft pilot suffers symptoms of hypoxia.

Attributes
ACN	251064
Time
Date	199309
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cos
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 18 flight time total : 522 flight time type : 18
ASRS Report	251064
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I'm a 53 yr old private pilot. I don't smoke or drink and feel as though I'm in good health. I just completed my flight physical and a private physical. On sep/sun/93, myself and 2 friends flew from 3GV to cos. We flew out at an altitude of 8500 MSL. Landed and rented a car and drove up pikes peak. I was suffering some discomfort (hypoxia) but didn't recognize the problem. When descending the mountain and getting back into my airplane to come home, I was making some mistakes on the radio with ground control, tower, departure. I was having difficulty changing radio frequency and flying proper heading. After being told more than once by the controller at pueblo, co, to change heading, I realized what a bad job I was doing, and started to concentrate more on flying and radio communication. I was able to continue the trip home. I think it would be a good idea to have oxygen stations at these high altitude airports so a pilot can replenish his system with oxygen. I know I would be willing to pay for such a service.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT SUFFERS SYMPTOMS OF HYPOXIA.

Narrative: I'M A 53 YR OLD PVT PLT. I DON'T SMOKE OR DRINK AND FEEL AS THOUGH I'M IN GOOD HEALTH. I JUST COMPLETED MY FLT PHYSICAL AND A PVT PHYSICAL. ON SEP/SUN/93, MYSELF AND 2 FRIENDS FLEW FROM 3GV TO COS. WE FLEW OUT AT AN ALT OF 8500 MSL. LANDED AND RENTED A CAR AND DROVE UP PIKES PEAK. I WAS SUFFERING SOME DISCOMFORT (HYPOXIA) BUT DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE PROB. WHEN DSNDING THE MOUNTAIN AND GETTING BACK INTO MY AIRPLANE TO COME HOME, I WAS MAKING SOME MISTAKES ON THE RADIO WITH GND CTL, TWR, DEP. I WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY CHANGING RADIO FREQ AND FLYING PROPER HDG. AFTER BEING TOLD MORE THAN ONCE BY THE CTLR AT PUEBLO, CO, TO CHANGE HDG, I REALIZED WHAT A BAD JOB I WAS DOING, AND STARTED TO CONCENTRATE MORE ON FLYING AND RADIO COM. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE THE TRIP HOME. I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE OXYGEN STATIONS AT THESE HIGH ALT ARPTS SO A PLT CAN REPLENISH HIS SYS WITH OXYGEN. I KNOW I WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY FOR SUCH A SVC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.