Small aircraft pilot became distracted by beautiful clear day when flying an IFR procedure at sbp.

Attributes
ACN	524945
Time
Date	200109
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sbp.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : crepe 3
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 2300
ASRS Report	524945
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I often reflect on IFR flts and four day slater I got a nagging feeling that I might have goofed. I had departed from sbp - home airport and one from which I have made numerous IFR departures - on an obstacle departure procedure that I had never been given before, and with a clearance to 5000 ft. The runway 29 procedure takes you to mqo where, if not at 4000 ft, to climb to 4000 ft in the holding pattern before proceeding on course (V27). It was a beautiful clear day with unlimited visibility and knowing the local geography, I was curious as to the terrain clearance this procedure provided and so spent some time looking out the window especially while climbing toward the VOR located on top of one of the hills on this complex of mountains. I received clearance to 7000 ft and given a small routing change as I approached mqo and watched visually south I passed over the beacon, and turned on course. I did not notice my altitude. And that is what is nagging me. In IFR conditions this would have been a no brainer -- VFR WX is distracting - it is easy to remain focused on procedures in IMC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT BECAME DISTRACTED BY BEAUTIFUL CLR DAY WHEN FLYING AN IFR PROCEDURE AT SBP.

Narrative: I OFTEN REFLECT ON IFR FLTS AND FOUR DAY SLATER I GOT A NAGGING FEELING THAT I MIGHT HAVE GOOFED. I HAD DEPARTED FROM SBP - HOME ARPT AND ONE FROM WHICH I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS IFR DEPARTURES - ON AN OBSTACLE DEP PROCEDURE THAT I HAD NEVER BEEN GIVEN BEFORE, AND WITH A CLRNC TO 5000 FT. THE RWY 29 PROCEDURE TAKES YOU TO MQO WHERE, IF NOT AT 4000 FT, TO CLIMB TO 4000 FT IN THE HOLDING PATTERN BEFORE PROCEEDING ON COURSE (V27). IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL CLR DAY WITH UNLIMITED VISIBILITY AND KNOWING THE LOCAL GEOGRAPHY, I WAS CURIOUS AS TO THE TERRAIN CLRNC THIS PROCEDURE PROVIDED AND SO SPENT SOME TIME LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW ESPECIALLY WHILE CLIMBING TOWARD THE VOR LOCATED ON TOP OF ONE OF THE HILLS ON THIS COMPLEX OF MOUNTAINS. I RECEIVED CLRNC TO 7000 FT AND GIVEN A SMALL ROUTING CHANGE AS I APCHED MQO AND WATCHED VISUALLY S I PASSED OVER THE BEACON, AND TURNED ON COURSE. I DID NOT NOTICE MY ALTITUDE. AND THAT IS WHAT IS NAGGING ME. IN IFR CONDITIONS THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A NO BRAINER -- VFR WX IS DISTRACTING - IT IS EASY TO REMAIN FOCUSED ON PROCEDURES IN IMC.

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.