Pilot of an small transport turboprop overshot descent altitude due to cockpit socializing distracti...

Attributes
ACN	318410
Time
Date	199510
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hou
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5600 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : hou
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	318410
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	other other : other
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 down to 6000 ft by houston approach control, I reported the field in sight. I believed the controller cleared me for a visual to runway 4 at hou, but I guess I wasn't. The new owner of the plane was up front with me and we were visiting and a little tired because we had been flying all day. After descending through 5600 ft MSL, I started to think to myself if he did in fact clear me for the visual because I couldn't remember if I read it back to him. At that time he asked for my altitude. I returned to 6000 ft MSL and asked if I was cleared for the visual, he said indeed that I was not. I believe all high performance aircraft should use the sterile cockpit concept. Visiting in the cockpit after a long day in the terminal area is not the smartest thing to do, even in VFR and a saturday afternoon in light traffic conditions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMT TURBOPROP OVERSHOT DSCNT ALT DUE TO COCKPIT SOCIALIZING DISTR.

Narrative: I WAS CLRED DOWN TO 6000 FT BY HOUSTON APCH CTL, I RPTED THE FIELD IN SIGHT. I BELIEVED THE CTLR CLRED ME FOR A VISUAL TO RWY 4 AT HOU, BUT I GUESS I WASN'T. THE NEW OWNER OF THE PLANE WAS UP FRONT WITH ME AND WE WERE VISITING AND A LITTLE TIRED BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN FLYING ALL DAY. AFTER DSNDING THROUGH 5600 FT MSL, I STARTED TO THINK TO MYSELF IF HE DID IN FACT CLR ME FOR THE VISUAL BECAUSE I COULDN'T REMEMBER IF I READ IT BACK TO HIM. AT THAT TIME HE ASKED FOR MY ALT. I RETURNED TO 6000 FT MSL AND ASKED IF I WAS CLRED FOR THE VISUAL, HE SAID INDEED THAT I WAS NOT. I BELIEVE ALL HIGH PERFORMANCE ACFT SHOULD USE THE STERILE COCKPIT CONCEPT. VISITING IN THE COCKPIT AFTER A LONG DAY IN THE TERMINAL AREA IS NOT THE SMARTEST THING TO DO, EVEN IN VFR AND A SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN LIGHT TFC CONDITIONS.

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.

Pilot of an small transport turboprop overshot descent altitude due to cockpit socializing distraction.