Commuter BE02 inadvertently climbed 400 ft above assigned altitude of FL230 while looking for a char...

Attributes
ACN	389590
Time
Date	199712
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : anc
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 22000 msl bound upper : 22400
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zan
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	other other : other pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 4700 flight time type : 1450
ASRS Report	389590
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
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
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying single pilot and it was night and IMC. I was looking down to find a chart and inadvertently started climbing. I looked up to see I was climbing through FL223 (300 ft high). I immediately corrected and returned to FL220. I probably went 400 ft high before getting it back down. No other aircraft were anywhere near and there was no conflict or inquiry from center. In the future, I will ensure the aircraft is trimmed better before looking at or for charts and decrease the time where I am not scanning the instruments. (Aircraft is not autoplt equipped.)

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER BE02 INADVERTENTLY CLBED 400 FT ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT OF FL230 WHILE LOOKING FOR A CHART.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING SINGLE PLT AND IT WAS NIGHT AND IMC. I WAS LOOKING DOWN TO FIND A CHART AND INADVERTENTLY STARTED CLBING. I LOOKED UP TO SEE I WAS CLBING THROUGH FL223 (300 FT HIGH). I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED AND RETURNED TO FL220. I PROBABLY WENT 400 FT HIGH BEFORE GETTING IT BACK DOWN. NO OTHER ACFT WERE ANYWHERE NEAR AND THERE WAS NO CONFLICT OR INQUIRY FROM CTR. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL ENSURE THE ACFT IS TRIMMED BETTER BEFORE LOOKING AT OR FOR CHARTS AND DECREASE THE TIME WHERE I AM NOT SCANNING THE INSTS. (ACFT IS NOT AUTOPLT EQUIPPED.)

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.

Commuter BE02 inadvertently climbed 400 ft above assigned altitude of FL230 while looking for a chart.