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Small aircraft pilot reports that he misread his altimeter during climb and leveled at wrong altitude.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 134154 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199001 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : mo6 |
| State Reference | AR |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 7000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : hwd |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | departure other enroute airway : v71 |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 115 flight time total : 4300 flight time type : 115 |
| ASRS Report | 134154 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| 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:
I was on an IFR flight plan with clearance to 6000', and was climbing to level off at 6000'. I was talking to ZME on 132.3, and just prior to handoff to ZME on 126.85 the controller asked my altitude, and I believe I responded 5600' ('50-600'). The controller then told me to contact ZME on 126.85. I delayed talking to ZME on 126.85 until I started my level off and reported that I was level at 7000', which I read direct from my altimeter. I had apparently misread my altimeter prior to level off when the previous controller asked my altitude, and was in fact at 6600' instead of 5600'. The controller on 126.85 then asked my altitude again, and I realized I was at 7000' rather than 6000', and I immediately descended to 6000'.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: SMA PLT REPORTS THAT HE MISREAD HIS ALTIMETER DURING CLIMB AND LEVELED AT WRONG ALT.
Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN WITH CLRNC TO 6000', AND WAS CLBING TO LEVEL OFF AT 6000'. I WAS TALKING TO ZME ON 132.3, AND JUST PRIOR TO HDOF TO ZME ON 126.85 THE CTLR ASKED MY ALT, AND I BELIEVE I RESPONDED 5600' ('50-600'). THE CTLR THEN TOLD ME TO CONTACT ZME ON 126.85. I DELAYED TALKING TO ZME ON 126.85 UNTIL I STARTED MY LEVEL OFF AND RPTED THAT I WAS LEVEL AT 7000', WHICH I READ DIRECT FROM MY ALTIMETER. I HAD APPARENTLY MISREAD MY ALTIMETER PRIOR TO LEVEL OFF WHEN THE PREVIOUS CTLR ASKED MY ALT, AND WAS IN FACT AT 6600' INSTEAD OF 5600'. THE CTLR ON 126.85 THEN ASKED MY ALT AGAIN, AND I REALIZED I WAS AT 7000' RATHER THAN 6000', AND I IMMEDIATELY DSNDED TO 6000'.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.