Date: 201404
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.ARTCC, US
Flight conditions: IMC
Weather elements / visibility: Thunderstorm
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class A ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Fatigue
Second reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Anomaly: Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Contributing factors: Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: While demonstrating a function of the FMS to my First Officer I looked up to check on the airplane and noticed the airspeed was getting slow. I increased thrust to increase the airspeed before it reached the rattlesnake. Over the next couple of minutes the airspeed still continued to slowly decrease. I don't remember if I disengaged the autopilot or if the stick shaker disengaged the autopilot. Either way I got the stick shaker and with the autopilot off I started a descent to increase airspeed. I told my First Officer to inform Center that we were in a descent to increase our airspeed. ATC did not seem too concerned and incrementally descended us for our arrival. After being nonrespondent to some ATC instructions it became apparent that I was fatigued. I transferred the controls to my First Officer who continued the flight without incident. After the Shutdown Checklist was completed I called in fatigued. Recognizing fatigue and the factors leading up to my being fatigued and calling in fatigued when I really needed to would have prevented this event from happening.


Second narrative: I was First Officer and pilot not flying on this flight. Approximately 30 minutes from the destination while I was programming the FMS for in range information; the Captain began to demonstrate some additional functions of the FMS. Soon thereafter we noticed the airspeed was significantly low; and the Captain increased the thrust levers. It appeared that the Captain was attempting to recover lost airspeed and prevent a stall. The autopilot disengaged (either at the command of the Captain or a result of the stick shaker activation) and the Captain proceeded to lower the nose. He then asked me to advise ATC that we were descending to increase airspeed; which I did. ATC authorized us to descend and we initially leveled at 34;000 FT prior to being given further clearance to descend. The weather ranged from IFR to VFR in the descent with thunderstorms and moderate turbulence in the vicinity. As we were getting further clearances I continuously asked the Captain if he was OK and what he was doing when he appeared non-responsive to instructions. He then transferred control of the aircraft to me and we proceeded to land without incident. After landing he asked me if he should call in fatigued to which I replied 'yes'.


Synopsis: CRJ900 flight crew report getting very slow at FL360 during an FMC discussion. The Captain increases thrust but not enough and the stick shaker activates and the autopilot disengages. The Captain starts descending to gain airspeed and ATC is advised. The Captain appears unresponsive during the descent and the First Officer is assigned flying duties for the landing. A fatigue call is made by the Captain after block in.