C172 pilot was off course and altitude near cxy.

Attributes
ACN	440674
Time
Date	199906
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Altitude	msl single value : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mdt.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 500 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	440674
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : recurrent event altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On my way from orf to cxy, I lost radio communication with baltimore approach because of a bad radio. While talking to harrisburg approach, whom I contacted on my own and for some reason my radio was working fine again, I got off course on the V268 airway from baltimore. Then, about 7-10 mi away from capital city airport, I started a descent from 7000 ft which was a mistake on my part. Harrisburg approach was understandably quite ticked off at me and asked me to call them when I got down. On the phone, we discussed the importance of staying on an airway and holding your altitude. I am aware of the mistakes I made, and will be more careful in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT WAS OFF COURSE AND ALT NEAR CXY.

Narrative: ON MY WAY FROM ORF TO CXY, I LOST RADIO COM WITH BALTIMORE APCH BECAUSE OF A BAD RADIO. WHILE TALKING TO HARRISBURG APCH, WHOM I CONTACTED ON MY OWN AND FOR SOME REASON MY RADIO WAS WORKING FINE AGAIN, I GOT OFF COURSE ON THE V268 AIRWAY FROM BALTIMORE. THEN, ABOUT 7-10 MI AWAY FROM CAPITAL CITY ARPT, I STARTED A DSCNT FROM 7000 FT WHICH WAS A MISTAKE ON MY PART. HARRISBURG APCH WAS UNDERSTANDABLY QUITE TICKED OFF AT ME AND ASKED ME TO CALL THEM WHEN I GOT DOWN. ON THE PHONE, WE DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING ON AN AIRWAY AND HOLDING YOUR ALT. I AM AWARE OF THE MISTAKES I MADE, AND WILL BE MORE CAREFUL IN THE FUTURE.

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.