Altitude deviation altitude overshot in descent by small aircraft pilot.

Attributes
ACN	309140
Time
Date	199507
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : stl airport : sus
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : stl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 67 flight time total : 825 flight time type : 599
ASRS Report	309140
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was cleared to fly over stl at midfield departing on a 210 degree heading at 4000 ft. Stl approach cleared me down to 3000 ft with a heading of 240 degrees toward sus, my destination airport. When descending in VMC I started to look for the airport and landmarks and didn't pay attention to my altitude. At 2500 ft MSL, stl called and asked if I had visual on sus. I said yes, and was cleared for the visual approach to sus runway 8R. The moral of the story is always confirm altitude before looking for the airport.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT IN DSCNT BY SMA PLT.

Narrative: I WAS CLRED TO FLY OVER STL AT MIDFIELD DEPARTING ON A 210 DEG HDG AT 4000 FT. STL APCH CLRED ME DOWN TO 3000 FT WITH A HDG OF 240 DEGS TOWARD SUS, MY DEST ARPT. WHEN DSNDING IN VMC I STARTED TO LOOK FOR THE ARPT AND LANDMARKS AND DIDN'T PAY ATTN TO MY ALT. AT 2500 FT MSL, STL CALLED AND ASKED IF I HAD VISUAL ON SUS. I SAID YES, AND WAS CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH TO SUS RWY 8R. THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS ALWAYS CONFIRM ALT BEFORE LOOKING FOR THE ARPT.

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.