Small aircraft has heading and altitude deviation on VOR approach.

Attributes
ACN	255506
Time
Date	199311
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : grw airport : m37
State Reference	MS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : zme
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 750
ASRS Report	255506
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I requested a lower altitude to prepare for the VOR-a approach into M37. The controller apparently was unaware of my impending transition to the approach phase. At this point I was within 2 mi of the VOR on which this approach is predicated. The controller informed me of the hold on the VOR after I passed it and changed his holding instructions after I had started a turn back to the VOR. During this turn, my son (4 yrs) released his seatbelt and his mother (sitting in the front seat) started trying to get him back into it (both having a heated exchange). During the commotion, I inadvertently left my assigned altitude of 5000 ft to 4500 ft for about 1 min. Having become disoriented with respect to the aircraft position relative to the VOR, I returned to the VOR and received clearance for the approach which was accomplished safely. This could be prevented by: 1) better pilot/controller communications of expectations regarding potential holds. 2) better pilot control of the cockpit environment. 3) better preparation on the part of the pilot prior to transitioning into the approach phase.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAS HDG AND ALTDEV ON VOR APCH.

Narrative: I REQUESTED A LOWER ALT TO PREPARE FOR THE VOR-A APCH INTO M37. THE CTLR APPARENTLY WAS UNAWARE OF MY IMPENDING TRANSITION TO THE APCH PHASE. AT THIS POINT I WAS WITHIN 2 MI OF THE VOR ON WHICH THIS APCH IS PREDICATED. THE CTLR INFORMED ME OF THE HOLD ON THE VOR AFTER I PASSED IT AND CHANGED HIS HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS AFTER I HAD STARTED A TURN BACK TO THE VOR. DURING THIS TURN, MY SON (4 YRS) RELEASED HIS SEATBELT AND HIS MOTHER (SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT) STARTED TRYING TO GET HIM BACK INTO IT (BOTH HAVING A HEATED EXCHANGE). DURING THE COMMOTION, I INADVERTENTLY LEFT MY ASSIGNED ALT OF 5000 FT TO 4500 FT FOR ABOUT 1 MIN. HAVING BECOME DISORIENTED WITH RESPECT TO THE ACFT POS RELATIVE TO THE VOR, I RETURNED TO THE VOR AND RECEIVED CLRNC FOR THE APCH WHICH WAS ACCOMPLISHED SAFELY. THIS COULD BE PREVENTED BY: 1) BETTER PLT/CTLR COMS OF EXPECTATIONS REGARDING POTENTIAL HOLDS. 2) BETTER PLT CTL OF THE COCKPIT ENVIRONMENT. 3) BETTER PREPARATION ON THE PART OF THE PLT PRIOR TO TRANSITIONING INTO THE APCH PHASE.

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.