Pilot of beech B58 baron overshot assigned altitude during a VFR descent in class B airspace.

Attributes
ACN	449360
Time
Date	199909
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hub.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5300 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : i90.tracon tower : atl.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Baron 58/58TC
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 11150 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	449360
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
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 alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

VFR flight following for most of flight from abilene to houston. I called hou approach about 50 NM from hobby. Controller told me to fly 110 degrees and intercept ILS for runway 12R at hobby (even though I was not on an IFR flight plan). He also told me to descend to 5000 ft. As I was descending through 5300 ft, he asked me what my altitude was. I told him and he said I was told to descend to 5500 ft not 5000 ft. He then told me to descend to 3500 ft and contact approach on 123.8. I should have written the instructions down.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF BEECH B58 BARON OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT DURING A VFR DSCNT IN CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: VFR FLT FOLLOWING FOR MOST OF FLT FROM ABILENE TO HOUSTON. I CALLED HOU APCH ABOUT 50 NM FROM HOBBY. CTLR TOLD ME TO FLY 110 DEGS AND INTERCEPT ILS FOR RWY 12R AT HOBBY (EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT ON AN IFR FLT PLAN). HE ALSO TOLD ME TO DSND TO 5000 FT. AS I WAS DSNDING THROUGH 5300 FT, HE ASKED ME WHAT MY ALT WAS. I TOLD HIM AND HE SAID I WAS TOLD TO DSND TO 5500 FT NOT 5000 FT. HE THEN TOLD ME TO DSND TO 3500 FT AND CONTACT APCH ON 123.8. I SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN THE INSTRUCTIONS DOWN.

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.