An small aircraft (mooney M20C) has an altitude deviation during descent in cae airspace.

Attributes
ACN	400530
Time
Date	199804
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cae
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2100 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cae
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 B/C Ranger
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 475 flight time type : 175
ASRS Report	400530
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On IFR flight plan in VMC to cub airport, I became concerned about being too high approximately 20 NM out. (I was at 9000 ft MSL.) I requested a descent for my arrival at cub and approach approved descent to 4000 ft MSL. As I descended I was concerned being at pattern altitude at the right speed for lowering the gear (in my aircraft gear extension speed is only 120 mph). Since I was approaching red line, I knew it would be a challenge. My focus shifted from going to 4000 ft to getting down on speed and I blew through 4000 ft. At 2100 ft MSL, approach asked me if I had canceled and I said no, so he assigned me a lower altitude and vectored me to a visual approach. For my part, I need to ask earlier to descend so I don't get behind the power curve like this.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA (MOONEY M20C) HAS AN ALTDEV DURING DSCNT IN CAE AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ON IFR FLT PLAN IN VMC TO CUB ARPT, I BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT BEING TOO HIGH APPROX 20 NM OUT. (I WAS AT 9000 FT MSL.) I REQUESTED A DSCNT FOR MY ARR AT CUB AND APCH APPROVED DSCNT TO 4000 FT MSL. AS I DSNDED I WAS CONCERNED BEING AT PATTERN ALT AT THE RIGHT SPD FOR LOWERING THE GEAR (IN MY ACFT GEAR EXTENSION SPD IS ONLY 120 MPH). SINCE I WAS APCHING RED LINE, I KNEW IT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE. MY FOCUS SHIFTED FROM GOING TO 4000 FT TO GETTING DOWN ON SPD AND I BLEW THROUGH 4000 FT. AT 2100 FT MSL, APCH ASKED ME IF I HAD CANCELED AND I SAID NO, SO HE ASSIGNED ME A LOWER ALT AND VECTORED ME TO A VISUAL APCH. FOR MY PART, I NEED TO ASK EARLIER TO DSND SO I DON'T GET BEHIND THE PWR CURVE LIKE THIS.

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.