Private pilot in private aircraft was distraction by a passenger asking questions. He had disconnected his autoplt for an altitude adjustment and experienced a climb 800 ft above his assigned altitude. It was nighttime and the cockpit lighting was dimmed.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	381430
Time
Date	199709
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bke
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zlc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 530 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	381430
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Coming back to baker city, or, from burns, or, I turned off my autoplt when I got baker's altimeter to increase altitude 100 ft. I was distraction by passenger questions of outside lights and inside panel instrument lighting was dimmed. I was 800 ft high and caught it and was correcting it just as ZLC advised me of same. I acknowledged it, descended to 10000 ft, and the controller said 'no problem.' no traffic in my area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT IN PVT ACFT WAS DISTR BY A PAX ASKING QUESTIONS. HE HAD DISCONNECTED HIS AUTOPLT FOR AN ALT ADJUSTMENT AND EXPERIENCED A CLB 800 FT ABOVE HIS ASSIGNED ALT. IT WAS NIGHTTIME AND THE COCKPIT LIGHTING WAS DIMMED.

Narrative: COMING BACK TO BAKER CITY, OR, FROM BURNS, OR, I TURNED OFF MY AUTOPLT WHEN I GOT BAKER'S ALTIMETER TO INCREASE ALT 100 FT. I WAS DISTR BY PAX QUESTIONS OF OUTSIDE LIGHTS AND INSIDE PANEL INST LIGHTING WAS DIMMED. I WAS 800 FT HIGH AND CAUGHT IT AND WAS CORRECTING IT JUST AS ZLC ADVISED ME OF SAME. I ACKNOWLEDGED IT, DSNDED TO 10000 FT, AND THE CTLR SAID 'NO PROB.' NO TFC IN MY AREA.

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.