<< >> NASA ASRS Report 853518, September 2009

A B737 flight crew exceeded 250 kts below 10;000 ft in their rush to get an ill passenger on the ground.

Attributes
ACN	853518
Time
Date	200909
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 268 Flight Crew Type 1700
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 184
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Speed All Types Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness

Narrative:

We declared an emergency with center due to a medical emergency in the back. We got word of a passed out individual who was not responsive. We felt it was urgent to get on the ground as soon as possible. All agencies were contacted and we were focused on landing quickly. ATC gave us direct to the field. As we passed below 10;000' with approach; we decided it would be justified to go over 250 KIAS below 10;000'. This was communicated to ATC and they said no problem. It was early am; good weather and pretty quiet. As we slowed for landing; all was done in accordance with normal landing procedures. We landed uneventfully and the passenger was removed by paramedics. I don't know the exact speed we reached below 10;000'. We may have exceeded 250 for a couple minutes.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737 flight crew exceeded 250 kts below 10;000 ft in their rush to get an ill passenger on the ground.

Narrative: We declared an emergency with Center due to a medical emergency in the back. We got word of a passed out individual who was not responsive. We felt it was urgent to get on the ground ASAP. All agencies were contacted and we were focused on landing quickly. ATC gave us direct to the field. As we passed below 10;000' with Approach; we decided it would be justified to go over 250 KIAS below 10;000'. This was communicated to ATC and they said no problem. It was early AM; good weather and pretty quiet. As we slowed for landing; all was done IAW normal landing procedures. We landed uneventfully and the passenger was removed by paramedics. I don't know the exact speed we reached below 10;000'. We may have exceeded 250 for a couple minutes.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.