Private pilot of small aircraft aircraft inadvertently descended below assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	211392
Time
Date	199205
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hyk
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 700 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	211392
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified 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:

Possible breaking of altitude assignment. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information. Reporter advised that he descended below assigned altitude over the lexington, ky, VORTAC area inadvertently when distracted in IMC while changing radio frequencys. He was flying an small aircraft single engine aircraft. He further stated that ATC had informed him of altitude assignment by asking him his altitude. He has not received any FAA investigation request. He further stated that he had lost the aircraft airspeed indicator due to icing of the pitot tube.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT OF SMA ACFT INADVERTENTLY DSNDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: POSSIBLE BREAKING OF ALT ASSIGNMENT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR ADVISED THAT HE DSNDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALT OVER THE LEXINGTON, KY, VORTAC AREA INADVERTENTLY WHEN DISTRACTED IN IMC WHILE CHANGING RADIO FREQS. HE WAS FLYING AN SMA SINGLE ENG ACFT. HE FURTHER STATED THAT ATC HAD INFORMED HIM OF ALT ASSIGNMENT BY ASKING HIM HIS ALT. HE HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY FAA INVESTIGATION REQUEST. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE HAD LOST THE ACFT AIRSPD INDICATOR DUE TO ICING OF THE PITOT TUBE.

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.