While flight instructor maintained a traffic watch student drifted off assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	489860
Time
Date	200010
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cma.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	military facility : nid.milfac tower : clt.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time total : 7100 flight time type : 35
ASRS Report	489860
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on an IFR training flight, we had conducted a VOR approach into camarillo, ca, and were being radar vectored for another approach into camarillo. We had been assigned 5000 ft, and I was watching outside for traffic and overall situation awareness. I knew we were approaching our assigned altitude and was expecting the student to level off. Student did not, and had continued climbing. I had been saying, 'watch your altitude,' and apparently it did not register. As I looked back in the cockpit and saw the altimeter approaching 5300 ft, mugu approach simultaneously called and said we were assigned 5000 ft. I acknowledged that we were assigned 5000 ft, and that we were descending back to 5000 ft immediately. I took the controls and forcefully put the aircraft into a descent to 5000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHILE FLT INSTRUCTOR MAINTAINED A TFC WATCH STUDENT DRIFTED OFF ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN IFR TRAINING FLT, WE HAD CONDUCTED A VOR APCH INTO CAMARILLO, CA, AND WERE BEING RADAR VECTORED FOR ANOTHER APCH INTO CAMARILLO. WE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED 5000 FT, AND I WAS WATCHING OUTSIDE FOR TFC AND OVERALL SIT AWARENESS. I KNEW WE WERE APCHING OUR ASSIGNED ALT AND WAS EXPECTING THE STUDENT TO LEVEL OFF. STUDENT DID NOT, AND HAD CONTINUED CLBING. I HAD BEEN SAYING, 'WATCH YOUR ALT,' AND APPARENTLY IT DID NOT REGISTER. AS I LOOKED BACK IN THE COCKPIT AND SAW THE ALTIMETER APCHING 5300 FT, MUGU APCH SIMULTANEOUSLY CALLED AND SAID WE WERE ASSIGNED 5000 FT. I ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WE WERE ASSIGNED 5000 FT, AND THAT WE WERE DSNDING BACK TO 5000 FT IMMEDIATELY. I TOOK THE CTLS AND FORCEFULLY PUT THE ACFT INTO A DSCNT TO 5000 FT.

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.