GA small aircraft deviated from clearance route and altitude deviation excursion from clearance alti...

Attributes
ACN	106658
Time
Date	198903
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : eni
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8400 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zan
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : v494
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	106658
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : regained aircraft control
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After having flown in solid IMC for 3 hours was en route to sacramento via V494. Over eni VORTAC I mistakenly set a course direct williams (ila) VORTAC contrary to my clearance. About 3 miles east of eni I noticed my mistake and started a turn back on course. At this time the center controller asked what my cleared route was. Being distracted by the communication and upset from my mistake the bank increased past 60 degree to the right and I was in a 700 FPM descent. I recovered from the spiral and was given a clearance direct williams VORTAC. During the recovery I had an altitude excursion of about 600' down to 8400'. Why did this happen? I was tired, I got distracted and before I knew it I was in a spiral. I was hand flying an small aircraft which is not a stable instrument platform. How to prevent such an occurrence, fly the airplane first.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA DEVIATED FROM CLRNC ROUTE AND ALT DEVIATION EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT.

Narrative: AFTER HAVING FLOWN IN SOLID IMC FOR 3 HOURS WAS ENRTE TO SACRAMENTO VIA V494. OVER ENI VORTAC I MISTAKENLY SET A COURSE DIRECT WILLIAMS (ILA) VORTAC CONTRARY TO MY CLRNC. ABOUT 3 MILES E OF ENI I NOTICED MY MISTAKE AND STARTED A TURN BACK ON COURSE. AT THIS TIME THE CENTER CTLR ASKED WHAT MY CLRED ROUTE WAS. BEING DISTRACTED BY THE COM AND UPSET FROM MY MISTAKE THE BANK INCREASED PAST 60 DEG TO THE RIGHT AND I WAS IN A 700 FPM DSCNT. I RECOVERED FROM THE SPIRAL AND WAS GIVEN A CLRNC DIRECT WILLIAMS VORTAC. DURING THE RECOVERY I HAD AN ALT EXCURSION OF ABOUT 600' DOWN TO 8400'. WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? I WAS TIRED, I GOT DISTRACTED AND BEFORE I KNEW IT I WAS IN A SPIRAL. I WAS HAND FLYING AN SMA WHICH IS NOT A STABLE INSTRUMENT PLATFORM. HOW TO PREVENT SUCH AN OCCURRENCE, FLY THE AIRPLANE FIRST.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

GA small aircraft deviated from clearance route and altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude.