Pilot of small aircraft on BFR has course deviation and altitude deviation on IFR flight plan.

Attributes
ACN	408950
Time
Date	199807
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hpn
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3200 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	408950
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During BFR on takeoff from hpn, wandered left of course. Recovered within 1 min. While at 7000 ft, given 4000 ft by approach control for approach to hartford. Went down to 3200 ft and recovered to 4000 ft. Cause: being 'rusty' and overconfident. Didn't write down full instruction from ATC. Better familiarization of IFR procedures and charts before attempting to fly, and writing down instructions from ATC would have been preferable than relying on memory.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA ON BFR HAS COURSE DEV AND ALTDEV ON IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: DURING BFR ON TKOF FROM HPN, WANDERED L OF COURSE. RECOVERED WITHIN 1 MIN. WHILE AT 7000 FT, GIVEN 4000 FT BY APCH CTL FOR APCH TO HARTFORD. WENT DOWN TO 3200 FT AND RECOVERED TO 4000 FT. CAUSE: BEING 'RUSTY' AND OVERCONFIDENT. DIDN'T WRITE DOWN FULL INSTRUCTION FROM ATC. BETTER FAMILIARIZATION OF IFR PROCS AND CHARTS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO FLY, AND WRITING DOWN INSTRUCTIONS FROM ATC WOULD HAVE BEEN PREFERABLE THAN RELYING ON MEMORY.

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.