JJ and Bob, thank you for bringing up this subject. As you have stated,
dehydration is a real concern for those of us who live in fly here in the
Mountain West.

Before Cookie gets on my case I'll say that from my understanding the
"cause" of the recent Idaho accident was "poor pilot judgment." However,
dehydration could definitely have been a "contributing factor."

I helped assemble the BG-12B involved in the accident. I know it had a
Mountain High electronic O2 system, so I'm assuming it was being used. I
also know that the bird was not equipped with a pilot relief system. I
discussed installation options with the pilot.

I don't know if, or how much drinking water he had onboard. I don't know if
he was adequately hydrated prior to entering the cockpit. (He normally
elected to launch at the end of the launch cycle so he could have easily
been behind the hydration cycle prior to takeoff.)

For those not familiar with the part of the state of Idaho where the
accident occurred, it has an annual rain fall of only 10.25 inches a year.
The field is located 5,500 MSL and the temperature that day was in the low
90s.

Dehydration IS a big deal and as stated in both JJ's and Bob's posts, its'
effects should NOT be taken lightly.

There are many things that we don't really know about this accident;
however, I know that we lost a relatively young commercial glider pilot that
was excited about owning and flying his own sailplane.

My thoughts and prayers are for his sister who is retrieving his pickup and
personal belonging today.

Wayne
HP-14 "6F"
http://www.soaridaho.com/


"BobW" wrote in message ...

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.