A BE90 pilot is distraction by a passenger and exceeds the assigned altitude by 800 ft.

Attributes
ACN	514600
Time
Date	200106
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : grr.airport
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	King Air C90 E90
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 3400 flight time type : 65
ASRS Report	514600
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance Passenger Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed grr with 6 passenger. 3 children were deaf and being taken to bwi for treatment. On climb out, I was distraction by the passenger and failed to notice altitude preselect was not engaged. Control contacted me as I reached 10800 ft. I was only cleared to 10000 ft. Controller then cleared me to FL210. There was no traffic conflict and I informed control of my mistake. There was no further talk about this and no mention of a violation. The trip was then completed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE90 PLT IS DISTR BY A PAX AND EXCEEDS THE ASSIGNED ALT BY 800 FT.

Narrative: I DEPARTED GRR WITH 6 PAX. 3 CHILDREN WERE DEAF AND BEING TAKEN TO BWI FOR TREATMENT. ON CLBOUT, I WAS DISTR BY THE PAX AND FAILED TO NOTICE ALT PRESELECT WAS NOT ENGAGED. CTL CONTACTED ME AS I REACHED 10800 FT. I WAS ONLY CLRED TO 10000 FT. CTLR THEN CLRED ME TO FL210. THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT AND I INFORMED CTL OF MY MISTAKE. THERE WAS NO FURTHER TALK ABOUT THIS AND NO MENTION OF A VIOLATION. THE TRIP WAS THEN COMPLETED.

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.