On 8/25/2011 7:54 AM, JJ Sinclair wrote:

Snip...
Cal City Regionals, pilot flying an Open Cirrus approached the finish
line at 50 feet and about 50 knots, all thought he would just land
straight ahead, but just after he crossed the line, he pulled up,
stalled and killed himself right in front of the finish gate. The only
plausible explanation is he must have slowly bled off his airspeed,
but didn't realize it and thought he was going 150, not 50. No water
bottle was found in the wreckage. Dehydration can do that kind of
thing to the mind.

Another pilot flying a Ventus B was seen about 5pm, circling so low
that he was casting a shadow and then crashed, still circling! Pilot
doesn't remember anything after breakfast that day. Dehydration can do
that kind of thing to the mind.

Another instructor pilot with thousands of hours in gliders stalled
his 1-26 turning final to an off-field landing about 4pm. He hadn't
had a drink of water all day! Dehydration can do that kind of thing to
the mind.

Food (water) for thought,
JJ

It was probably from "Soaring" magazine I began to learn of the
'easy-to-achieve' reality/subtle hazards of dehydration. And I don't know if
JJ's ending example above is of Paul Schweizer's accident in a Texas-based
1-26 'Nationals,' but it sure could be; definitely recommended reading from
the archives. If it happens, it must be possible, and Paul concluded
dehydration was a (the main?) contributor. This in *east* Texas.

After moving to Colorado's Front Range (~13" annual moisture; daytime humidity
not uncommonly in the low teens), I quickly got in the habit of ensuring
(after a breakfast with no diuretics [Kids, can you spell 'caffeine'?] and at
least 16 oz. of fluids) I drank another 24 oz. of cold water (draining a
thermos) before/during/after the (early as possible) rigging process. After
that, I've always PIC-ed with an additional gallon of water. Never guzzled it
all in flight, but more than once have drunk over 75% of it prior to landing.

I recall once forgetting the thermos, rigging, a longish wait for tow,
thrashing around down low for what mentally seemed a *long* time, and finally
opting for a sip from one of my canteens, long before I was able to climb into
air-conditioned comfort. The (not quite scaldingly hot, sun-baked) water
tasted so good, I polished that canteen's 2 quarts off, then and there. One
conclusion: if hot water tastes and feels GOOD, you're majorly dehydrated!

At a Salida (CO) camp involving some longish pushing of gliders, and *after*
employing the ground-thermos strategy, I could feel myself getting
cotton-mouthed come tow time. After about half an hour (on a good day, too;
grnxx!), I voluntarily terminated the flight because I could tell my
thermaling skills simply weren't there. Nor was my brain. Worrisome, scary,
irritating, not fun, easier to achieve than to remedy.

After that, if I can easily sense dehydration pre-tow, I simply don't tow. I'd
rather that decision be a no-brainer, than my flying.

If I'm honest with myself, a good case of dehydration (easy to achieve out
west) has for 25+ years taken me at least 24 hours from which to recover; 48
hours is better.

Dehydration - bad juju (and, not at all uncommon out here, IMO).

Bob W.