Pilot overcome, daughter lands plane with ATC help

[FITZY]

The print edition of the August 10th Manchester Union Leader had the full story, but this link goes to a summary. Apparently both parents were overcome by carbon monoxide fumes and the daughter radioed ATC, who talked her down.

http://www.theunionleader.com/yester...date=8-10-2004

[flyinggriffin]

They were lucky she didn't pass out. We had an accident this way where the pilot was overcome, but the passenger took longer to pass out but ATC was unable to help with clearing the air. CO detectors should be in everyones aircraft.

[Jeff S KDTW]

It looks like the whole article is available by clicking on the link.

[KathyPilot]

I know the article states CO but this is a pressurized aircraft – much less susceptible to CO than a non-pressurized one. If it were CO, and conditions continued (can't open a window in a Malibu), the daughter would have passed out as well. I can’t imagine her, being under the same CO density to debilitate her mother and father, still having the cognitive ability to land the plane successfully

My guess is the pressure system faulted and the daughter, being younger, was less prone to hypoxia. All speculation on my part of course and in due time the investigation will provide further details.
In any case this is a lucky family.

Kathy

[FITZY]

The Manchester Union Leader and Concord Monitor reported today that sadly both parents died this weekend from strokes. The husband, who was flying, suffered a stroke, not carbon monoxide poisoning. The wife, who was sitting in back of him, tried to offer assistance and suffered a stroke also. She never regained conciousness and had not exhibited any brain activity since. Under the circumstances, the family decided to withdraw life support. While preparing to say goodbye to his wife, the husband suffered a second, fatal stroke.

The aircraft checked out okay.

http://www.theunionleader.com/yester...date=8-25-2004