PA32 pilot had altitude overshoot in ZJX class east.

Attributes
ACN	490550
Time
Date	200011
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : dbn.vortac
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1800 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	490550
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Passenger Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was assigned a descent from 6000 ft to 5000 ft by ZJX. After I initiated descent I resumed a conversation with my passenger. I had not flown frequently with him before and on a previous leg I politely asked him to be silent during critical flight operations. My attention was distracted until ZJX asked me to check altitude, it was 4500 ft. I immediately climbed to 5000 ft and was switched to savannah approach. In the future, I will be more forceful with passenger's distractions and may switch to the isolation circuit on the intercom.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA32 PLT HAD ALT OVERSHOOT IN ZJX CLASS E.

Narrative: I WAS ASSIGNED A DSCNT FROM 6000 FT TO 5000 FT BY ZJX. AFTER I INITIATED DSCNT I RESUMED A CONVERSATION WITH MY PAX. I HAD NOT FLOWN FREQUENTLY WITH HIM BEFORE AND ON A PREVIOUS LEG I POLITELY ASKED HIM TO BE SILENT DURING CRITICAL FLT OPS. MY ATTN WAS DISTRACTED UNTIL ZJX ASKED ME TO CHK ALT, IT WAS 4500 FT. I IMMEDIATELY CLBED TO 5000 FT AND WAS SWITCHED TO SAVANNAH APCH. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL BE MORE FORCEFUL WITH PAX'S DISTRACTIONS AND MAY SWITCH TO THE ISOLATION CIRCUIT ON THE INTERCOM.

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.