Altitude deviation altitude excursion.

Attributes
ACN	273743
Time
Date	199406
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sns
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	King Air C90 E90
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : zoa
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 65 flight time total : 11085 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	273743
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I requested 16000 ft from FL200 and was cleared as requested. I intended to cancel IFR below 18000 ft, however, ATC was busy and I continued descent through 16000 ft. Since the flight conditions were VMC, I concentrated too much outside the cockpit and got to 14000 ft before I canceled IFR and reverted to flight following. The controller alerted me at 14000 ft by asking my altitude. I responded and canceled IFR. My xchk was poor and I should have squawked 1200 through 18000 ft when ATC was busy. I requested this form from sns FSS on same day, jun/fri/94. They were out and were just able to send me forms today, jun/wed/94 (13 days later). Will mail the form on jun/thu/94, tomorrow.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT EXCURSION.

Narrative: I REQUESTED 16000 FT FROM FL200 AND WAS CLRED AS REQUESTED. I INTENDED TO CANCEL IFR BELOW 18000 FT, HOWEVER, ATC WAS BUSY AND I CONTINUED DSCNT THROUGH 16000 FT. SINCE THE FLT CONDITIONS WERE VMC, I CONCENTRATED TOO MUCH OUTSIDE THE COCKPIT AND GOT TO 14000 FT BEFORE I CANCELED IFR AND REVERTED TO FLT FOLLOWING. THE CTLR ALERTED ME AT 14000 FT BY ASKING MY ALT. I RESPONDED AND CANCELED IFR. MY XCHK WAS POOR AND I SHOULD HAVE SQUAWKED 1200 THROUGH 18000 FT WHEN ATC WAS BUSY. I REQUESTED THIS FORM FROM SNS FSS ON SAME DAY, JUN/FRI/94. THEY WERE OUT AND WERE JUST ABLE TO SEND ME FORMS TODAY, JUN/WED/94 (13 DAYS LATER). WILL MAIL THE FORM ON JUN/THU/94, TOMORROW.

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.