Small aircraft pilot flies at incorrect altitude for VFR flight.

Attributes
ACN	358040
Time
Date	199701
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fwa
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : fwa tower : lgb
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 32 flight time total : 2949 flight time type : 2194
ASRS Report	358040
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I had flown to a small airstrip, 830H, which is 3 NM on 010 degree radial off the dayton VOR for scheduled maintenance. I filed and flew on an IFR flight plan which I normally do and probably do 95% of the time that I fly. The trip back from 830H to south bend, in, was reported excellent VFR conditions, so I departed VFR, climbed to 6000 ft MSL squawking 1200. Approximately 30 mi southeast of fwa I called approach and told them my intentions and altitude. They gave me a new squawk code and told me to maintain VFR. At approximately 35 mi northwest of fwa I was told to contact sbn approach and that this was a handoff. I had previously obtained the sbn ATIS and was in the process of switching from fwa to sbn when I suddenly realized I was at an IFR altitude. I immediately climbed to 6500 ft and contacted sbn approach. I continued my flight in a normal and as usual manner and landed at sbn which is also my home base. I believe that because I file and fly IFR most of the time, and further because I flew to 830H earlier that day on an IFR flight plan, that I had become a creature of habit. However, I believe that because of this incident I will never forget it. A lesson learned well.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT FLIES AT INCORRECT ALT FOR VFR FLT.

Narrative: I HAD FLOWN TO A SMALL AIRSTRIP, 830H, WHICH IS 3 NM ON 010 DEG RADIAL OFF THE DAYTON VOR FOR SCHEDULED MAINT. I FILED AND FLEW ON AN IFR FLT PLAN WHICH I NORMALLY DO AND PROBABLY DO 95% OF THE TIME THAT I FLY. THE TRIP BACK FROM 830H TO SOUTH BEND, IN, WAS RPTED EXCELLENT VFR CONDITIONS, SO I DEPARTED VFR, CLBED TO 6000 FT MSL SQUAWKING 1200. APPROX 30 MI SE OF FWA I CALLED APCH AND TOLD THEM MY INTENTIONS AND ALT. THEY GAVE ME A NEW SQUAWK CODE AND TOLD ME TO MAINTAIN VFR. AT APPROX 35 MI NW OF FWA I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT SBN APCH AND THAT THIS WAS A HDOF. I HAD PREVIOUSLY OBTAINED THE SBN ATIS AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF SWITCHING FROM FWA TO SBN WHEN I SUDDENLY REALIZED I WAS AT AN IFR ALT. I IMMEDIATELY CLBED TO 6500 FT AND CONTACTED SBN APCH. I CONTINUED MY FLT IN A NORMAL AND AS USUAL MANNER AND LANDED AT SBN WHICH IS ALSO MY HOME BASE. I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE I FILE AND FLY IFR MOST OF THE TIME, AND FURTHER BECAUSE I FLEW TO 830H EARLIER THAT DAY ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, THAT I HAD BECOME A CREATURE OF HABIT. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT I WILL NEVER FORGET IT. A LESSON LEARNED WELL.

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.