GA small aircraft altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude during approach to bur.

Attributes
ACN	153747
Time
Date	199008
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bur
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bur
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	153747
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
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:

Severe radio interference from commercial FM stations intermittently during lynxx 5 arrival to bur. ILS G/south OTS. Had difficulty maintaining communications, and allowed myself to be distracted while on localizer and descended to 2500' MSL. Noticed and started corrective altitude change, just as controller asked me to 'say altitude.' replied, as I climbed immediately back to 3000' MSL minimum prior to budde. Bad screw-up. Lesson: fly aircraft, communication be damned! Cloud tops were about 2300' MSL, so altitude deviation did not take place under IMC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA ALT DEVIATION EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT DURING APCH TO BUR.

Narrative: SEVERE RADIO INTERFERENCE FROM COMMERCIAL FM STATIONS INTERMITTENTLY DURING LYNXX 5 ARR TO BUR. ILS G/S OTS. HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING COMS, AND ALLOWED MYSELF TO BE DISTRACTED WHILE ON LOC AND DSNDED TO 2500' MSL. NOTICED AND STARTED CORRECTIVE ALT CHANGE, JUST AS CTLR ASKED ME TO 'SAY ALT.' REPLIED, AS I CLBED IMMEDIATELY BACK TO 3000' MSL MINIMUM PRIOR TO BUDDE. BAD SCREW-UP. LESSON: FLY ACFT, COM BE DAMNED! CLOUD TOPS WERE ABOUT 2300' MSL, SO ALT DEVIATION DID NOT TAKE PLACE UNDER IMC.

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.