Narrative:

Takeoff from sat at approximately AB15 to dal. En route, at approximately 70 mi south of dal, having received dal ATIS and in contact with ZFW, my last memory is that of scanning my instruments and standing by for descent to dal. My next is that of being approximately 100+ mi north of dal on same direct course and altitude. Upon regaining my bearings, I immediately tried to contact ZFW on frequency. After making contact, I initiated a 180 degree course reversal direct back to dal. I queried center as to if everything was all right and that there were no problems as a result of this situation. They said no. I apologized for the situation and was handed off to dal approach which requested me to call by telephone when I landed. I immediately complied, and also explained the situation, that to my recollection I simply fell asleep for that time period. I again apologized and queried as to if other aircraft were affected by my mistake. Again the controller said no. I have freely volunteered this information and have fully cooperated with the dal FSDO to resolve this incident. In my opinion, to prevent an occurrence of this event in the future, a pilot should pay heed to his need for rest, rather than attempting to push himself to complete a non revenue (part 91) or any flight where he could jeopardize his safety and that of the civilian populace. I, myself, will recognize fatigue and obtain not just 'rest' but 'quality rest.' to my fellow aviators I will also emphasize they, too, take this to heart -- not only for themselves, but for their families as well -- just as I have.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MU2 ATX PLT RPT ON FALLING ASLEEP DURING AN EARLY MORNING REPOSITIONING FLT FROM SAT TO DAL, TX.

Narrative: TKOF FROM SAT AT APPROX AB15 TO DAL. ENRTE, AT APPROX 70 MI S OF DAL, HAVING RECEIVED DAL ATIS AND IN CONTACT WITH ZFW, MY LAST MEMORY IS THAT OF SCANNING MY INSTS AND STANDING BY FOR DSCNT TO DAL. MY NEXT IS THAT OF BEING APPROX 100+ MI N OF DAL ON SAME DIRECT COURSE AND ALT. UPON REGAINING MY BEARINGS, I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO CONTACT ZFW ON FREQ. AFTER MAKING CONTACT, I INITIATED A 180 DEG COURSE REVERSAL DIRECT BACK TO DAL. I QUERIED CTR AS TO IF EVERYTHING WAS ALL RIGHT AND THAT THERE WERE NO PROBS AS A RESULT OF THIS SIT. THEY SAID NO. I APOLOGIZED FOR THE SIT AND WAS HANDED OFF TO DAL APCH WHICH REQUESTED ME TO CALL BY TELEPHONE WHEN I LANDED. I IMMEDIATELY COMPLIED, AND ALSO EXPLAINED THE SIT, THAT TO MY RECOLLECTION I SIMPLY FELL ASLEEP FOR THAT TIME PERIOD. I AGAIN APOLOGIZED AND QUERIED AS TO IF OTHER ACFT WERE AFFECTED BY MY MISTAKE. AGAIN THE CTLR SAID NO. I HAVE FREELY VOLUNTEERED THIS INFO AND HAVE FULLY COOPERATED WITH THE DAL FSDO TO RESOLVE THIS INCIDENT. IN MY OPINION, TO PREVENT AN OCCURRENCE OF THIS EVENT IN THE FUTURE, A PLT SHOULD PAY HEED TO HIS NEED FOR REST, RATHER THAN ATTEMPTING TO PUSH HIMSELF TO COMPLETE A NON REVENUE (PART 91) OR ANY FLT WHERE HE COULD JEOPARDIZE HIS SAFETY AND THAT OF THE CIVILIAN POPULACE. I, MYSELF, WILL RECOGNIZE FATIGUE AND OBTAIN NOT JUST 'REST' BUT 'QUALITY REST.' TO MY FELLOW AVIATORS I WILL ALSO EMPHASIZE THEY, TOO, TAKE THIS TO HEART -- NOT ONLY FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL -- JUST AS I HAVE.

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.