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An small aircraft pilot at FL230 experiences a level of hypoxia and requests a lower altitude. He didn't know how serious his condition was until he overshot his first assigned altitude in descent. His one other lament was that he had failed to declare an emergency.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 392784 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199801 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : cys |
| State Reference | WY |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 18700 msl bound upper : 23000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdv |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 60 |
| ASRS Report | 392784 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation other |
Narrative:
I was cruising at FL230 when I noticed I was having trouble understanding center. I found that I wasn't getting enough oxygen. I asked for descent to 13000 ft and got the flow of oxygen working better, but I didn't declare an emergency because I didn't think (hypoxia) I had a serious problem and I was able to get the flow going. What I didn't know was that my system was oxygen deficient to the point that I apparently missed ATC calls and overshot my FL190 leveloff. I was able to function ok after that and complied. I learned that when there is 'any problem' with pressurization or oxygen I will declare an emergency and descend as a precaution.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN SMA PLT AT FL230 EXPERIENCES A LEVEL OF HYPOXIA AND REQUESTS A LOWER ALT. HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW SERIOUS HIS CONDITION WAS UNTIL HE OVERSHOT HIS FIRST ASSIGNED ALT IN DSCNT. HIS ONE OTHER LAMENT WAS THAT HE HAD FAILED TO DECLARE AN EMER.
Narrative: I WAS CRUISING AT FL230 WHEN I NOTICED I WAS HAVING TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING CTR. I FOUND THAT I WASN'T GETTING ENOUGH OXYGEN. I ASKED FOR DSCNT TO 13000 FT AND GOT THE FLOW OF OXYGEN WORKING BETTER, BUT I DIDN'T DECLARE AN EMER BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK (HYPOXIA) I HAD A SERIOUS PROB AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE FLOW GOING. WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW WAS THAT MY SYS WAS OXYGEN DEFICIENT TO THE POINT THAT I APPARENTLY MISSED ATC CALLS AND OVERSHOT MY FL190 LEVELOFF. I WAS ABLE TO FUNCTION OK AFTER THAT AND COMPLIED. I LEARNED THAT WHEN THERE IS 'ANY PROB' WITH PRESSURIZATION OR OXYGEN I WILL DECLARE AN EMER AND DSND AS A PRECAUTION.
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.