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AC-50 pilot experiences altitude and heading deviation due to temporary loss of consciousness at 8000 ft en route to okc.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 607428 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200402 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001 To 0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : ukw.vortac |
| State Reference | TX |
| Altitude | msl single value : 8000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zfw.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air taxi |
| Make Model Name | Commander 500 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : private pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 326 flight time total : 2146 flight time type : 1071 |
| ASRS Report | 607428 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other anomaly other other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
While en route IFR to okc, about 50 NM north of bowie VOR, I became drowsy and my eyelids unexpectedly closed for a few mins. When I opened them, my altitude was off 1000 ft and heading was about 120 degrees off. I immediately reported to ZFW and continued to okc at 7000 ft. It was early in the morning in class east airspace. There was no loss of separation with any other airspace penetration. Outside air temperature was -5 degrees C, and I had the combustion heater on full. I have been flying night cargo for almost a yr and nothing like this has ever happened. I was well rested the day of the flight. Possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning. After I came back to, I shut off the heater and opened the fresh air vents. No autoplt on the airplane.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AC-50 PLT EXPERIENCES ALT AND HDG DEV DUE TO TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS AT 8000 FT ENRTE TO OKC.
Narrative: WHILE ENRTE IFR TO OKC, ABOUT 50 NM N OF BOWIE VOR, I BECAME DROWSY AND MY EYELIDS UNEXPECTEDLY CLOSED FOR A FEW MINS. WHEN I OPENED THEM, MY ALT WAS OFF 1000 FT AND HDG WAS ABOUT 120 DEGS OFF. I IMMEDIATELY RPTED TO ZFW AND CONTINUED TO OKC AT 7000 FT. IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING IN CLASS E AIRSPACE. THERE WAS NO LOSS OF SEPARATION WITH ANY OTHER AIRSPACE PENETRATION. OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS -5 DEGS C, AND I HAD THE COMBUSTION HEATER ON FULL. I HAVE BEEN FLYING NIGHT CARGO FOR ALMOST A YR AND NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED. I WAS WELL RESTED THE DAY OF THE FLT. POSSIBILITY OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. AFTER I CAME BACK TO, I SHUT OFF THE HEATER AND OPENED THE FRESH AIR VENTS. NO AUTOPLT ON THE AIRPLANE.
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.