PA28 pilot violates heading altitude rule near bdr, ct. Cites 'mental error.'

Attributes
ACN	448690
Time
Date	199909
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bdr.airport
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl single value : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 16 flight time total : 1150 flight time type : 870
ASRS Report	448690
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Incorrect cruise altitude, VFR eastbound (far part 91.159). Mental error, focused on altitude needed to get on top of a scattered cloud layer at 7000 ft MSL.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT VIOLATES HDG ALT RULE NEAR BDR, CT. CITES 'MENTAL ERROR.'

Narrative: INCORRECT CRUISE ALT, VFR EBOUND (FAR PART 91.159). MENTAL ERROR, FOCUSED ON ALT NEEDED TO GET ON TOP OF A SCATTERED CLOUD LAYER AT 7000 FT MSL.

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.