Reporter descends 1100 ft through assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	303574
Time
Date	199505
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pix
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7900 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 7800 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	303574
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on an IFR flight plan and descending from 16000 ft to our cleared altitude of 9000 ft I was talking to a passenger. ATC asked what my altitude was and I noticed that I had not stopped the descent but continued down to 7900 ft. The reasons for this could have been that I was tired, or talking to the passenger, or VMC and had totally forgotten the altitude I was cleared to. Instead of correcting my altitude, I canceled IFR. To correct this problem, I need to set the altitude alerter every time I change altitudes and constantly review what I am doing and compare it to what I am supposed to be doing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR DSNDS 1100 FT THROUGH ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AND DSNDING FROM 16000 FT TO OUR CLRED ALT OF 9000 FT I WAS TALKING TO A PAX. ATC ASKED WHAT MY ALT WAS AND I NOTICED THAT I HAD NOT STOPPED THE DSCNT BUT CONTINUED DOWN TO 7900 FT. THE REASONS FOR THIS COULD HAVE BEEN THAT I WAS TIRED, OR TALKING TO THE PAX, OR VMC AND HAD TOTALLY FORGOTTEN THE ALT I WAS CLRED TO. INSTEAD OF CORRECTING MY ALT, I CANCELED IFR. TO CORRECT THIS PROB, I NEED TO SET THE ALT ALERTER EVERY TIME I CHANGE ALTS AND CONSTANTLY REVIEW WHAT I AM DOING AND COMPARE IT TO WHAT I AM SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

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.