Decompression sickness: an increasing risk for the private pilot.

Decompression sickness is not an appreciated hazard among the private pilot community. This is of growing concern with the increasing number of nonpressurized aircraft capable of flying to altitudes in excess of 5,468 m (18,000 ft). A case report is presented of a 42-year-old pilot who apparently experienced decompression sickness at flight level 250 which went unrecognized until several months after the incident.