Small transport has altitude and heading deviation along with alternator failure.

Attributes
ACN	290892
Time
Date	199412
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sat
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sat tracon : dca
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 44 flight time total : 320 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	290892
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In IMC right alternator failed. ADF to alamo NDB fluctuation. I spent time trying to correct alternator problem and fixated on that and consequently didn't maintain altitude. ADF fluctuation and poor scan contributed to course deviation. Unknown cause of alternator failure. Maintenance guess is that something got wet and failed as I picked up visible moisten in the cloud. (No ice present.)

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT HAS ALT AND HDG DEV ALONG WITH ALTERNATOR FAILURE.

Narrative: IN IMC R ALTERNATOR FAILED. ADF TO ALAMO NDB FLUCTUATION. I SPENT TIME TRYING TO CORRECT ALTERNATOR PROB AND FIXATED ON THAT AND CONSEQUENTLY DIDN'T MAINTAIN ALT. ADF FLUCTUATION AND POOR SCAN CONTRIBUTED TO COURSE DEV. UNKNOWN CAUSE OF ALTERNATOR FAILURE. MAINT GUESS IS THAT SOMETHING GOT WET AND FAILED AS I PICKED UP VISIBLE MOISTEN IN THE CLOUD. (NO ICE PRESENT.)

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.