Altitude deviation on descent.

Attributes
ACN	298710
Time
Date	199503
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dab
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dab
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 850
ASRS Report	298710
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was cleared to 4000 ft on an IFR descent from on top. Aircraft was clear of clouds with 20 mi visibility. Altimeter pointer was set to 4000 ft. A traffic alert was provided by dab approach for traffic at 2 O'clock. While looking for traffic, I descended below 4000 ft to approximately 3500 ft. Dab approach advised we were not cleared below 4000 ft. I acknowledged and began a climb back to 4000 ft. Before reaching 4000 ft, I was cleared to descend to 1600 ft. I concentrated too much on traffic and not enough on altitude management.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ON DSCNT.

Narrative: I WAS CLRED TO 4000 FT ON AN IFR DSCNT FROM ON TOP. ACFT WAS CLR OF CLOUDS WITH 20 MI VISIBILITY. ALTIMETER POINTER WAS SET TO 4000 FT. A TFC ALERT WAS PROVIDED BY DAB APCH FOR TFC AT 2 O'CLOCK. WHILE LOOKING FOR TFC, I DSNDED BELOW 4000 FT TO APPROX 3500 FT. DAB APCH ADVISED WE WERE NOT CLRED BELOW 4000 FT. I ACKNOWLEDGED AND BEGAN A CLB BACK TO 4000 FT. BEFORE REACHING 4000 FT, I WAS CLRED TO DSND TO 1600 FT. I CONCENTRATED TOO MUCH ON TFC AND NOT ENOUGH ON ALT MGMNT.

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.