Altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	282323
Time
Date	199409
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fnt
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : fnt
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 33 flight time total : 1662 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	282323
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was climbing to an assigned altitude of 6000 ft. This was assigned by detroit departure upon leaving oakland pontiac airport. While climbing I was handed off to flint approach. I contacted fnt approach and advised that I was climbing to 6000 ft. While in the climb I entered a cloud layer. At that time I was trying to get the mop VOR on my GPS. Instead of stopping the climb at 6000 ft I continued to climb while having my attention diverted to the GPS. At 7000 ft fnt approach asked if I had the current altimeter -- I stammered that I was checking the setting. I quickly descended to 6000 ft. No more comments were made. I continued the flight to destination. I am 53 yrs old. I have been flying for 35 yrs. Instrument rated for 12 yrs. I have never busted an altitude like this -- problem -- fixating on (GPS) -- a single instrument.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV.

Narrative: I WAS CLBING TO AN ASSIGNED ALT OF 6000 FT. THIS WAS ASSIGNED BY DETROIT DEP UPON LEAVING OAKLAND PONTIAC ARPT. WHILE CLBING I WAS HANDED OFF TO FLINT APCH. I CONTACTED FNT APCH AND ADVISED THAT I WAS CLBING TO 6000 FT. WHILE IN THE CLB I ENTERED A CLOUD LAYER. AT THAT TIME I WAS TRYING TO GET THE MOP VOR ON MY GPS. INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE CLB AT 6000 FT I CONTINUED TO CLB WHILE HAVING MY ATTN DIVERTED TO THE GPS. AT 7000 FT FNT APCH ASKED IF I HAD THE CURRENT ALTIMETER -- I STAMMERED THAT I WAS CHKING THE SETTING. I QUICKLY DSNDED TO 6000 FT. NO MORE COMMENTS WERE MADE. I CONTINUED THE FLT TO DEST. I AM 53 YRS OLD. I HAVE BEEN FLYING FOR 35 YRS. INST RATED FOR 12 YRS. I HAVE NEVER BUSTED AN ALT LIKE THIS -- PROB -- FIXATING ON (GPS) -- A SINGLE INST.

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.