Hypoxia Accidents in UK
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Hypoxia Accidents in UK
Hello All
I am doing some research on hypoxia and I wonder if anyone can remember two hypoxia accidents that occured over/in the UK.
I remember one accident involved a CAA inspector, as it was a test flight. Both pilots were killed and the aircraft destroyed (over water).
I seem to remember a similar accident a few years afterwards where a military fighter came alongside and observed both pilots unconscious.
Can anyone provide dates or AAIB references please?
I am doing some research on hypoxia and I wonder if anyone can remember two hypoxia accidents that occured over/in the UK.
I remember one accident involved a CAA inspector, as it was a test flight. Both pilots were killed and the aircraft destroyed (over water).
I seem to remember a similar accident a few years afterwards where a military fighter came alongside and observed both pilots unconscious.
Can anyone provide dates or AAIB references please?
I seem to recall a bizjet (possibly a Learjet, and possibly German-registered) that ended up in the North Atlantic to the west of Scotland after the crew apparently succumbed to hypoxia en-route to Stornaway. That would have been circa 1982 if my memory is correct.
Regarding the Kingair, I think it was observed flying in large circles, gradually drifting south due to the prevailing upper wind. I think that a fighter was tasked with "having a look", but was obviously unable to actually do anything to assist.
Regarding the Kingair, I think it was observed flying in large circles, gradually drifting south due to the prevailing upper wind. I think that a fighter was tasked with "having a look", but was obviously unable to actually do anything to assist.
Wiki is your friend....
King Air 200 Crash 1979
In 1979, a training flight involding 2 pilots on a British Super King Air 200 was carried out somewhere south of England at FL 300. The pilots failed to recognised the onset of hypoxia before losing consciousness. The aircraft then, orbiting on autopilot with the crew already dead drifted towards French airspace and crashed shortly after fuel ran out. Reports indicated that the oxygen supply switch was not on. Detailed report concludes that when the crew put on masks after dumping pressurisation at FL 310, they only breathed in ambient air therefore succumbing to lost of consciousness quickly. (Flight Global, 1981 [7])
King Air 200 Crash 1979
In 1979, a training flight involding 2 pilots on a British Super King Air 200 was carried out somewhere south of England at FL 300. The pilots failed to recognised the onset of hypoxia before losing consciousness. The aircraft then, orbiting on autopilot with the crew already dead drifted towards French airspace and crashed shortly after fuel ran out. Reports indicated that the oxygen supply switch was not on. Detailed report concludes that when the crew put on masks after dumping pressurisation at FL 310, they only breathed in ambient air therefore succumbing to lost of consciousness quickly. (Flight Global, 1981 [7])
2 others from the AAIB website; G-ARIE,and G-OOSI..
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Some years ago there was a story from the US about a Comanche pilot who passed out due to hypoxia (or carbon monoxide from a faulty exhaust/heater?) while the aircraft was on autopilot. It eventually ran out of fuel and landed itself gear up in a snowy field. Then the pilot woke up with a bit of a headache... I believe the arcraft was more or less undamaged.
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On a slighlty different tack -does anyone remember the Navajo pilot over East Anglia who fell asleep and eventually found himself a long way out over the North Sea
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Here's another one
Queensland Sep 4 2000
Queensland Sep 4 2000
Pull What,
How official is your research?
If it's other than a casual interest, why not approach the CAA with a request for help. They must have a comprehensive record of all acidents in and around UK.
A word of caution, however, Hypoxia related accidents are quite difficult to classify with certainty.
Old Duffer
How official is your research?
If it's other than a casual interest, why not approach the CAA with a request for help. They must have a comprehensive record of all acidents in and around UK.
A word of caution, however, Hypoxia related accidents are quite difficult to classify with certainty.
Old Duffer
Pull what,
I don't know about the Navajo, but in the late '80s a pilot fell asleep in a Trislander between Amsterdam and Southend. He bounced off a wave and damaged one of the fixed main legs and had the unique experience of landing gear up (well partly) in a fixed gear aircraft.
I could name him but I won't.
I don't know about the Navajo, but in the late '80s a pilot fell asleep in a Trislander between Amsterdam and Southend. He bounced off a wave and damaged one of the fixed main legs and had the unique experience of landing gear up (well partly) in a fixed gear aircraft.
I could name him but I won't.
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Thanks OD I may try CAA-think I have enough with the King Air accident to be going on with.
Dixi-amazing-Jesus he was lucky!
I remember a very well known chief pilot (retired now) who took off from Jersey and flew the heading for Birmingham - Jersey to get back to Birmingham-ouch! (DH Rapide)
Better not laugh too loud though-my flying experince tells me that tomorrow could make a fool out of me too!
Dixi-amazing-Jesus he was lucky!
I remember a very well known chief pilot (retired now) who took off from Jersey and flew the heading for Birmingham - Jersey to get back to Birmingham-ouch! (DH Rapide)
Better not laugh too loud though-my flying experince tells me that tomorrow could make a fool out of me too!
Pull What What a bizarre posting
If your friend took off from Jersey and flew the same heading accidentally that would require s change of track totally away from the UK towards France.
If your friend took off from Jersey and flew the same heading accidentally that would require s change of track totally away from the UK towards France.
in the late '80s a pilot fell asleep in a Trislander between Amsterdam and Southend
I don't know if the exhaust fumes which came into the cabin by many routes aggravated the normal lack of awareness, but it's possible. Not hypoxia, though, in a Prentice.
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An extract from a book that has relevance here:
Although I am not aware of any air force that screens potential pilots for their reaction to reduced oxygen levels, there are definite piloting advantages to being abnormal in this context. The classic response of most people to reduced blood oxygen levels is euphoria. However a few actually feel unwell and sweat when you turn off their oxygen. I always counted myself lucky to be one such. Another was Andy Jones who later became Mr Hawk.
In the early 70s, Andy was doing a performance climb on an export Hunter at Dunsfold. That aircraft had a cabin altitude of about 22,000 ft when the aircraft was at 45,000 ft (a low level of pressurisation by today’s standards I know - but that is how it was then). By 30,000 ft he felt unwell so checked all his oxygen indications. All fine, both flow and pressure. By 40 he felt rotten and decided he was ill. He checked the oxygen system again but no problems showed up. He decided he needed to land asap before whatever was wrong with him got worse. He remembered putting the aircraft into a rapid descent but the next thing he recalled was waking up to find himself supersonic and going through 10,000 ft very quickly. He sorted things out and landed. When we checked his oxygen cylinders, they had been filled with air. Now that is what I call a gotcha. When he had selected 100% oxygen and emergency flow, it blew out nicely all round his mask so everything about the system seemed normal. In those circumstances what is a guy to think? Just imagine if he had tent-pegged. Would they have ever dug deep enough to find the bottles? Probably not and it would have been put down to just another unexplained pilot problem. In the event an accident was avoided because of the pilot's physical characteristics.
Although I am not aware of any air force that screens potential pilots for their reaction to reduced oxygen levels, there are definite piloting advantages to being abnormal in this context. The classic response of most people to reduced blood oxygen levels is euphoria. However a few actually feel unwell and sweat when you turn off their oxygen. I always counted myself lucky to be one such. Another was Andy Jones who later became Mr Hawk.
In the early 70s, Andy was doing a performance climb on an export Hunter at Dunsfold. That aircraft had a cabin altitude of about 22,000 ft when the aircraft was at 45,000 ft (a low level of pressurisation by today’s standards I know - but that is how it was then). By 30,000 ft he felt unwell so checked all his oxygen indications. All fine, both flow and pressure. By 40 he felt rotten and decided he was ill. He checked the oxygen system again but no problems showed up. He decided he needed to land asap before whatever was wrong with him got worse. He remembered putting the aircraft into a rapid descent but the next thing he recalled was waking up to find himself supersonic and going through 10,000 ft very quickly. He sorted things out and landed. When we checked his oxygen cylinders, they had been filled with air. Now that is what I call a gotcha. When he had selected 100% oxygen and emergency flow, it blew out nicely all round his mask so everything about the system seemed normal. In those circumstances what is a guy to think? Just imagine if he had tent-pegged. Would they have ever dug deep enough to find the bottles? Probably not and it would have been put down to just another unexplained pilot problem. In the event an accident was avoided because of the pilot's physical characteristics.