M20 pilot has an altitude excursion. Inattention to duty cited.

Attributes
ACN	365730
Time
Date	199704
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : x16
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2100 msl bound upper : 2600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 700
ASRS Report	365730
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While approaching vanderburg from the north, I was assigned an altitude of 2600 ft. While looking for the airport and for traffic in the area, I descended to 2100 ft. Upon discovering the problem, I climbed back up to 2600 ft. In the future I will increase my scan of altitude to prevent unintended loss of altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: M20 PLT HAS AN ALT EXCURSION. INATTENTION TO DUTY CITED.

Narrative: WHILE APCHING VANDERBURG FROM THE N, I WAS ASSIGNED AN ALT OF 2600 FT. WHILE LOOKING FOR THE ARPT AND FOR TFC IN THE AREA, I DSNDED TO 2100 FT. UPON DISCOVERING THE PROB, I CLBED BACK UP TO 2600 FT. IN THE FUTURE I WILL INCREASE MY SCAN OF ALT TO PREVENT UNINTENDED LOSS OF ALT.

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.