Altitude deviation altitude overshoot.

Attributes
ACN	297840
Time
Date	199502
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : olv
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Beechcraft, Beech Aircraft Corp Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 4100 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	297840
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was departing a non-twred field IFR (olv) flying a beech 85 bonanza. No passenger. I had already received an IFR clearance from mem clearance delivery, and double checked all instructions and instruments. The ceiling was around 900 ft AGL, tops at 7200 ft MSL. I had been cleared to 2000 ft, expect 8000 ft in 10 min. After taking off, began a normal climb, and contacted mem approach. After entering the clouds, I noticed that my attitude indicator was showing a nose down indication. In addition, my #1 radio (tuned to mem approach), started cutting in and out with a lot of static. I was distraction. I glanced at my airspeed indicator which showed my airspeed was proper for climbing, my vsi was showing 1500-2000 FPM climb, and then my altimeter, which to my horror was showing 3300 ft. I reset my attitude indicator and began a descent to 2000 ft. However, as I did this, the approach controller called and asked what my assigned altitude was. I told her 2000 ft and apologized, saying I was beginning a descent. She then cleared me immediately to 5000 ft. The controller didn't say any more about the altitude bust, or if I had caused a conflict. I didn't offer an excuse or explanation because she seemed very busy and also had cleared me to 5000 ft. After arriving in knoxville, I became concerned that she may have to report the altitude bust because of the proximity to class B airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOOT.

Narrative: I WAS DEPARTING A NON-TWRED FIELD IFR (OLV) FLYING A BEECH 85 BONANZA. NO PAX. I HAD ALREADY RECEIVED AN IFR CLRNC FROM MEM CLRNC DELIVERY, AND DOUBLE CHKED ALL INSTRUCTIONS AND INSTS. THE CEILING WAS AROUND 900 FT AGL, TOPS AT 7200 FT MSL. I HAD BEEN CLRED TO 2000 FT, EXPECT 8000 FT IN 10 MIN. AFTER TAKING OFF, BEGAN A NORMAL CLB, AND CONTACTED MEM APCH. AFTER ENTERING THE CLOUDS, I NOTICED THAT MY ATTITUDE INDICATOR WAS SHOWING A NOSE DOWN INDICATION. IN ADDITION, MY #1 RADIO (TUNED TO MEM APCH), STARTED CUTTING IN AND OUT WITH A LOT OF STATIC. I WAS DISTR. I GLANCED AT MY AIRSPD INDICATOR WHICH SHOWED MY AIRSPD WAS PROPER FOR CLBING, MY VSI WAS SHOWING 1500-2000 FPM CLB, AND THEN MY ALTIMETER, WHICH TO MY HORROR WAS SHOWING 3300 FT. I RESET MY ATTITUDE INDICATOR AND BEGAN A DSCNT TO 2000 FT. HOWEVER, AS I DID THIS, THE APCH CTLR CALLED AND ASKED WHAT MY ASSIGNED ALT WAS. I TOLD HER 2000 FT AND APOLOGIZED, SAYING I WAS BEGINNING A DSCNT. SHE THEN CLRED ME IMMEDIATELY TO 5000 FT. THE CTLR DIDN'T SAY ANY MORE ABOUT THE ALT BUST, OR IF I HAD CAUSED A CONFLICT. I DIDN'T OFFER AN EXCUSE OR EXPLANATION BECAUSE SHE SEEMED VERY BUSY AND ALSO HAD CLRED ME TO 5000 FT. AFTER ARRIVING IN KNOXVILLE, I BECAME CONCERNED THAT SHE MAY HAVE TO RPT THE ALT BUST BECAUSE OF THE PROX TO CLASS B AIRSPACE.

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.