Emergency declared for diversion to alternate for medical emergency. Ill passenger.

Attributes
ACN	280839
Time
Date	199408
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mkc
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8700 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	280839
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During flight on our first leg ord-ict, flight attendant came up to cockpit and reported that a passenger was having a seizure. I went into cabin to ask her (passenger) if she wanted me to land at nearest airport, she replied no. I felt by her appearance that she would be ok, and we continued to ict. There were no doctors on board. 2 mins later she went into another seizure and became incapacitated. I immediately radioed ZKC for an immediate landing. I also radioed dispatch for an ambulance to be standing by. The passenger's breathing became erratic and faint. I had asked center if I could keep the airspeed 'up' below 10000 ft MSL. Since I felt things now became a matter of life and death for this passenger. I also must tell you that during one level off at 9000 ft, I had overshot the altitude by 300 ft. 'There was no traffic conflict or violation of any other aircraft's airspace due to this.' we landed uneventfully and the passenger was rushed to the hospital. I apologize for the 300 ft altitude 'overshoot,' and keeping the speed up below 10000 ft, but I had to get that aircraft on the ground as soon as possible. Thanks again for ATC's great assistance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMER DECLARED FOR DIVERSION TO ALTERNATE FOR MEDICAL EMER. ILL PAX.

Narrative: DURING FLT ON OUR FIRST LEG ORD-ICT, FLT ATTENDANT CAME UP TO COCKPIT AND RPTED THAT A PAX WAS HAVING A SEIZURE. I WENT INTO CABIN TO ASK HER (PAX) IF SHE WANTED ME TO LAND AT NEAREST ARPT, SHE REPLIED NO. I FELT BY HER APPEARANCE THAT SHE WOULD BE OK, AND WE CONTINUED TO ICT. THERE WERE NO DOCTORS ON BOARD. 2 MINS LATER SHE WENT INTO ANOTHER SEIZURE AND BECAME INCAPACITATED. I IMMEDIATELY RADIOED ZKC FOR AN IMMEDIATE LNDG. I ALSO RADIOED DISPATCH FOR AN AMBULANCE TO BE STANDING BY. THE PAX'S BREATHING BECAME ERRATIC AND FAINT. I HAD ASKED CTR IF I COULD KEEP THE AIRSPD 'UP' BELOW 10000 FT MSL. SINCE I FELT THINGS NOW BECAME A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH FOR THIS PAX. I ALSO MUST TELL YOU THAT DURING ONE LEVEL OFF AT 9000 FT, I HAD OVERSHOT THE ALT BY 300 FT. 'THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT OR VIOLATION OF ANY OTHER ACFT'S AIRSPACE DUE TO THIS.' WE LANDED UNEVENTFULLY AND THE PAX WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE 300 FT ALT 'OVERSHOOT,' AND KEEPING THE SPD UP BELOW 10000 FT, BUT I HAD TO GET THAT ACFT ON THE GND ASAP. THANKS AGAIN FOR ATC'S GREAT ASSISTANCE.

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.