A BE36 climbs 500 ft above assigned altitude as pilot is distracted by WX.

Attributes
ACN	409480
Time
Date	199807
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fkn
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 14500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bonanza 36
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	409480
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified 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:

While climbing to assigned cruising altitude of 14000 ft, and distracted by watching approaching heavy WX on stormscope, I inadvertently climbed through 14000 ft to 14500 ft, and then immediately returned to 14000 ft on discovering my error. The ATC controller said nothing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE36 CLBS 500 FT ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT AS PLT IS DISTRACTED BY WX.

Narrative: WHILE CLBING TO ASSIGNED CRUISING ALT OF 14000 FT, AND DISTRACTED BY WATCHING APCHING HVY WX ON STORMSCOPE, I INADVERTENTLY CLBED THROUGH 14000 FT TO 14500 FT, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO 14000 FT ON DISCOVERING MY ERROR. THE ATC CTLR SAID NOTHING.

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.