Small aircraft pilot encounters an altitude deviation and makes an erroneous unauthorized penetratio...

Attributes
ACN	189604
Time
Date	199109
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mmu airport : cdw
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90 tower : mmu tower : nrt
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 440
ASRS Report	189604
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departure from essex county airport, nj, to the southwest around XA00 on a VFR day. I was in contact with morristown airport, nj, controller for transit through air traffic area at 2800 ft. Being distraction by my crying kids, I inadvertently reached 3500 ft of altitude. I believe I was still in the new york TCA airspace that has a floor down to 3000 ft when discovered I descended below 3000 ft. The situation occurred because I was distraction by my crying children. To avoid similar occurrence, one should scan the instruments continuously, especially when distracting factors are present in the cockpit.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT ENCOUNTERS AN ALT DEV AND MAKES AN ERRONEOUS UNAUTHORIZED PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE.

Narrative: DEP FROM ESSEX COUNTY ARPT, NJ, TO THE SW AROUND XA00 ON A VFR DAY. I WAS IN CONTACT WITH MORRISTOWN ARPT, NJ, CTLR FOR TRANSIT THROUGH ATA AT 2800 FT. BEING DISTR BY MY CRYING KIDS, I INADVERTENTLY REACHED 3500 FT OF ALT. I BELIEVE I WAS STILL IN THE NEW YORK TCA AIRSPACE THAT HAS A FLOOR DOWN TO 3000 FT WHEN DISCOVERED I DSNDED BELOW 3000 FT. THE SITUATION OCCURRED BECAUSE I WAS DISTR BY MY CRYING CHILDREN. TO AVOID SIMILAR OCCURRENCE, ONE SHOULD SCAN THE INSTS CONTINUOUSLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN DISTRACTING FACTORS ARE PRESENT IN THE COCKPIT.

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.

Small aircraft pilot encounters an altitude deviation and makes an erroneous unauthorized penetration of airspace.