A C414A pilot overshoots his assigned altitude while thinking of other issues.

Attributes
ACN	432110
Time
Date	199903
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : cae.vortac
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 13400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc tower : iah.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Chancellor 414A & C414
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	432110
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued alert
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I had filed for 14000 ft (even altitude for a 350 degree course) but was assigned 13000 ft. I was distraction searching for a chart binder when center advised me of my altitude, 400 ft high. I was still thinking of my filed altitude and because of the distraction, did not exercise the proper attention to my clearance limit. The combination of a distraction and expectation of an even and filed altitude led to this oversight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C414A PLT OVERSHOOTS HIS ASSIGNED ALT WHILE THINKING OF OTHER ISSUES.

Narrative: I HAD FILED FOR 14000 FT (EVEN ALT FOR A 350 DEG COURSE) BUT WAS ASSIGNED 13000 FT. I WAS DISTR SEARCHING FOR A CHART BINDER WHEN CTR ADVISED ME OF MY ALT, 400 FT HIGH. I WAS STILL THINKING OF MY FILED ALT AND BECAUSE OF THE DISTR, DID NOT EXERCISE THE PROPER ATTN TO MY CLRNC LIMIT. THE COMBINATION OF A DISTR AND EXPECTATION OF AN EVEN AND FILED ALT LED TO THIS OVERSIGHT.

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.