Small aircraft overshot assigned altitude while making an approach to myf.

Attributes
ACN	348360
Time
Date	199609
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : myf
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2600 msl bound upper : 3300
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : san
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 230 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	348360
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : instructor
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During a practice ILS in IMC, the controller who was noticeably working a heavy load of aircraft, cleared us to a lower (3300 ft) altitude to intercept the ILS. I was flying and navigating and working radios. PNF was backing me up on the instruments and giving suggestions. While discussing something he saw wrong we blew right through 3300 ft and did not realize until 2600 ft. PNF quickly added power and pulled up to regain altitude. As we were getting it back, controller queried us. The discussion should have waited until we were on the ground and out of the IMC and busy airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT WHILE MAKING AN APCH TO MYF.

Narrative: DURING A PRACTICE ILS IN IMC, THE CTLR WHO WAS NOTICEABLY WORKING A HVY LOAD OF ACFT, CLRED US TO A LOWER (3300 FT) ALT TO INTERCEPT THE ILS. I WAS FLYING AND NAVING AND WORKING RADIOS. PNF WAS BACKING ME UP ON THE INSTS AND GIVING SUGGESTIONS. WHILE DISCUSSING SOMETHING HE SAW WRONG WE BLEW RIGHT THROUGH 3300 FT AND DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL 2600 FT. PNF QUICKLY ADDED PWR AND PULLED UP TO REGAIN ALT. AS WE WERE GETTING IT BACK, CTLR QUERIED US. THE DISCUSSION SHOULD HAVE WAITED UNTIL WE WERE ON THE GND AND OUT OF THE IMC AND BUSY AIRSPACE.

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.