A distracted pilot busts his altitude restriction.

Attributes
ACN	141596
Time
Date	199004
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : btr
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : hnl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other cruise other
Route In Use	departure other enroute airway : btr
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 95 flight time total : 12800 flight time type : 75
ASRS Report	141596
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On this date I was flying an small transport aircraft that climbs much faster than most models that I have flown as PIC. I departed btr and headed southeast. I climbed to 10000' and leveled off. The controller told me that I had been cleared to 9000' and to descend immediately. I realized at this point I thought I was at 9000'. I started a descent to 9000'. I had been looking at a thunderstorm in front of me on my radar and deciding which way to go around the storm. At this time I was in rain and turbulence. I believe the WX and the radio distracted me enough to miss the accurate altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DISTRACTED PLT BUSTS HIS ALT RESTRICTION.

Narrative: ON THIS DATE I WAS FLYING AN SMT ACFT THAT CLBS MUCH FASTER THAN MOST MODELS THAT I HAVE FLOWN AS PIC. I DEPARTED BTR AND HEADED SE. I CLBED TO 10000' AND LEVELED OFF. THE CTLR TOLD ME THAT I HAD BEEN CLRED TO 9000' AND TO DSND IMMEDIATELY. I REALIZED AT THIS POINT I THOUGHT I WAS AT 9000'. I STARTED A DSNT TO 9000'. I HAD BEEN LOOKING AT A TSTM IN FRONT OF ME ON MY RADAR AND DECIDING WHICH WAY TO GO AROUND THE STORM. AT THIS TIME I WAS IN RAIN AND TURB. I BELIEVE THE WX AND THE RADIO DISTRACTED ME ENOUGH TO MISS THE ACCURATE ALT.

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.