An small aircraft departs dfw, tx, and has an altitude deviation during leveloff.

Attributes
ACN	396090
Time
Date	199803
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 26 flight time total : 136 flight time type : 62
ASRS Report	396090
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot 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 assigned an altitude of 3000 ft upon departure and told to expect 5000 ft 10 mins after departure. About 15 mins after departure, I was instructed by ATC to climb and maintain 4000 ft. As I began a climb from 3000 ft to 4000 ft, I began looking at approach plates for my arrival airport and overshot the assigned altitude. At 4400 ft, I noticed the error and immediately corrected back to the assigned altitude of 4000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA DEPARTS DFW, TX, AND HAS AN ALTDEV DURING LEVELOFF.

Narrative: I WAS ASSIGNED AN ALT OF 3000 FT UPON DEP AND TOLD TO EXPECT 5000 FT 10 MINS AFTER DEP. ABOUT 15 MINS AFTER DEP, I WAS INSTRUCTED BY ATC TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 4000 FT. AS I BEGAN A CLB FROM 3000 FT TO 4000 FT, I BEGAN LOOKING AT APCH PLATES FOR MY ARR ARPT AND OVERSHOT THE ASSIGNED ALT. AT 4400 FT, I NOTICED THE ERROR AND IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED BACK TO THE ASSIGNED ALT OF 4000 FT.

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.