# NTSB CHI85IA149: Boeing 727-100, N285AT, Chattan00gr, TN, March 24, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 24, 1985, 16:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place: Chattan00gr, TN
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 130 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12914
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85IA149
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12914/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85IA149

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, cruise
  - judgment - poor, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - improper decision, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - physiological condition, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - physical impairment, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - physical impairment(hypoglycemia/diet), copilot/second pilot (cause)

## Analysis

APPROXIMATELY 8 HOURS INTO HIS DUTY DAY, AFTER FLYING FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS. THE FIRST OFFICER EXPERIENCED A 20 SECOND EPISODE OF SIMPLE VASO-VASO SYNCOPE (FAINTING), AS DIAGNOSED BY THE FAA AEROMEDICAL STANDARDS DIVISION MANAGER. THIS OCCURRED AS HE WAS ENROUTE TO THE LAVATORY FROM THE RIGHT SEAT. HE WAS REVIVED WITH AN AMMONIA INHALENT INTERVIEWS WITH THE FIRST OFFICER BY AVIATION MEDICAL EXAMINERS REVEALED THAT HE HAD BEEN ILL WITH INFLUENZA FOR THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT BUT THOUGHT HE HAD RECOVERED. IN ADDITION, DURING THIS THRE WEEK PERIOD HE WAS INTENTIONALLY DIETING AND EXPERIENCED A TEN POUND WEIGHT LOSS. THE AEROMEDICAL STANDARDS MANAGER BELIEVERS THAT THE EPISODE OF SYNCOPE IS NOT LIKELY TO OCCUR AGAIN. THE FIRST CLASS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REISSUED TO THE FIRST OFFICER WITH THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE FEDERAL AIR SURGEON.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N285AT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-100
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19152
- Engines: P&W JT-8D 14000 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: American Trans Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MONTEGO BAY, OF
- Destination: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 6,100 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19850324026109I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850324026109I), Mar 24, 1985: Boeing 72722, Chattanooga, TN. First officer fainted in flight. Revived in 20 seconds. Episode due to flu bout and dieting.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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