Pilot of light aircraft overshoots altitude on climb.

Attributes
ACN	126370
Time
Date	198910
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rzs
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6400
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute airway : zla
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 33 flight time total : 314 flight time type : 136
ASRS Report	126370
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During climbout on an IFR flight from santa maria, ca (smx) to lancaster, ca (wjf), I was given clearance to climb and maintain 6000'. As I reached about 6450', I realized I had climbed too high. As I was beginning to descend, ZLA called and reminded me to maintain 6000'. I returned to my assigned altitude immediately. Later the controller said there was traffic above me at 7000'. The controller also asked me to call him when I reached wjf. The error was a result of cockpit distractions and discussions. These distractions and discussions will be eliminated in the future. The actions of the controller, using information from the mode C transponder, helped in maintaining safety.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF LIGHT ACFT OVERSHOOTS ALT ON CLIMB.

Narrative: DURING CLIMBOUT ON AN IFR FLT FROM SANTA MARIA, CA (SMX) TO LANCASTER, CA (WJF), I WAS GIVEN CLRNC TO CLIMB AND MAINTAIN 6000'. AS I REACHED ABOUT 6450', I REALIZED I HAD CLIMBED TOO HIGH. AS I WAS BEGINNING TO DSND, ZLA CALLED AND REMINDED ME TO MAINTAIN 6000'. I RETURNED TO MY ASSIGNED ALT IMMEDIATELY. LATER THE CTLR SAID THERE WAS TFC ABOVE ME AT 7000'. THE CTLR ALSO ASKED ME TO CALL HIM WHEN I REACHED WJF. THE ERROR WAS A RESULT OF COCKPIT DISTRACTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS. THESE DISTRACTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS WILL BE ELIMINATED IN THE FUTURE. THE ACTIONS OF THE CTLR, USING INFO FROM THE MODE C XPONDER, HELPED IN MAINTAINING SAFETY.

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.