Reporter error admitted in altitude deviation altitude overshot in descent.

Attributes
ACN	316230
Time
Date	199509
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : aex
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : aex tower : ewr
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Duke 60
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 39 flight time total : 1349
ASRS Report	316230
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight plan from 66Y or diamondhead, ms, to alexandria international when approach control instructed me to descend to assigned altitude of 5000 ft MSL. The WX was raining, cloudy and had moderate turbulence. I started my descent and was instructed to expect the VOR approach to runway 32. I got too preoccupied and distracted by a burst of hard rain and watching the radar and setting the instruments for the VOR approach and studying the approach plate. I had the autoplt on when I checked my altitude I realized I was below my assigned altitude. I pulled up and about the same time the controller asked me my altitude. I told approach I was at 4500 ft climbing back to my assigned altitude of 5000 ft. There is no excuse for the error other than I got too preoccupied with the radar and approach plate. I personally want to apologize for the mistake. I understand how dangerous the error was.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR ERROR ADMITTED IN ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT IN DSCNT.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM 66Y OR DIAMONDHEAD, MS, TO ALEXANDRIA INTL WHEN APCH CTL INSTRUCTED ME TO DSND TO ASSIGNED ALT OF 5000 FT MSL. THE WX WAS RAINING, CLOUDY AND HAD MODERATE TURB. I STARTED MY DSCNT AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO EXPECT THE VOR APCH TO RWY 32. I GOT TOO PREOCCUPIED AND DISTRACTED BY A BURST OF HARD RAIN AND WATCHING THE RADAR AND SETTING THE INSTS FOR THE VOR APCH AND STUDYING THE APCH PLATE. I HAD THE AUTOPLT ON WHEN I CHKED MY ALT I REALIZED I WAS BELOW MY ASSIGNED ALT. I PULLED UP AND ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE CTLR ASKED ME MY ALT. I TOLD APCH I WAS AT 4500 FT CLBING BACK TO MY ASSIGNED ALT OF 5000 FT. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THE ERROR OTHER THAN I GOT TOO PREOCCUPIED WITH THE RADAR AND APCH PLATE. I PERSONALLY WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE MISTAKE. I UNDERSTAND HOW DANGEROUS THE ERROR WAS.

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.