Narrative:

We departed and picked up our clearance airborne. My wife was sitting in the back seat so she could tend to our 2 dachshunds we had with us. One dachshund started to bark continuously as we passed 5500 ft climbing to 7000 ft. I requested to retard the climb until we could get the dog settled down. I reported that one of my passenger was having trouble equalizing his ears; however; the controller must have heard the dog barking in the backgnd. After a few mins; it was clear that his barking/discomfort was not going to get any better; so I asked to divert. I was given vectors and a descent to 2000 ft; and to expect the ILS approach. I was flying using the autoplt and instead of taking the time to select the altitude (2000 ft); I just pushed the 'vertical speed down' button to start the descent while I dug out the approach plate. We were in VFR conditions; but I seem to remember that the controller gave me some reason why the ILS would be required. I think it had to do with some other traffic. I began to set up for the ILS approach and was informed that I may get a visual approach. Then the controller alerted me to my altitude excursion and asked if I could see the ground. I took control (turned off the autoplt) and climbed back from 1600 ft to my assigned 2000 ft. I could see the ground; but I don't think I told the controller so. I apologized for the altitude excursion and the controller was very helpful with getting me to the runway for a visual approach. My mistake was in misprogramming the autoplt. I should have entered the proper altitude; then monitored the altitude more closely during this very busy time. Remember; the dog constantly barking in the backgnd? We gave the dog some valium while on the ground; waited for it to take effect; then continued the flight uneventfully. We believe that the dog may have spit out his initial dose of valium.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LANCAIR ES PLT OVERSHOOTS ASSIGNED ALT WHEN DIVERTING DUE TO HIS DOG IN DISTRESS IN THE BACK SEAT.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED AND PICKED UP OUR CLRNC AIRBORNE. MY WIFE WAS SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT SO SHE COULD TEND TO OUR 2 DACHSHUNDS WE HAD WITH US. ONE DACHSHUND STARTED TO BARK CONTINUOUSLY AS WE PASSED 5500 FT CLBING TO 7000 FT. I REQUESTED TO RETARD THE CLB UNTIL WE COULD GET THE DOG SETTLED DOWN. I RPTED THAT ONE OF MY PAX WAS HAVING TROUBLE EQUALIZING HIS EARS; HOWEVER; THE CTLR MUST HAVE HEARD THE DOG BARKING IN THE BACKGND. AFTER A FEW MINS; IT WAS CLR THAT HIS BARKING/DISCOMFORT WAS NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER; SO I ASKED TO DIVERT. I WAS GIVEN VECTORS AND A DSCNT TO 2000 FT; AND TO EXPECT THE ILS APCH. I WAS FLYING USING THE AUTOPLT AND INSTEAD OF TAKING THE TIME TO SELECT THE ALT (2000 FT); I JUST PUSHED THE 'VERT SPD DOWN' BUTTON TO START THE DSCNT WHILE I DUG OUT THE APCH PLATE. WE WERE IN VFR CONDITIONS; BUT I SEEM TO REMEMBER THAT THE CTLR GAVE ME SOME REASON WHY THE ILS WOULD BE REQUIRED. I THINK IT HAD TO DO WITH SOME OTHER TFC. I BEGAN TO SET UP FOR THE ILS APCH AND WAS INFORMED THAT I MAY GET A VISUAL APCH. THEN THE CTLR ALERTED ME TO MY ALT EXCURSION AND ASKED IF I COULD SEE THE GND. I TOOK CTL (TURNED OFF THE AUTOPLT) AND CLBED BACK FROM 1600 FT TO MY ASSIGNED 2000 FT. I COULD SEE THE GND; BUT I DON'T THINK I TOLD THE CTLR SO. I APOLOGIZED FOR THE ALT EXCURSION AND THE CTLR WAS VERY HELPFUL WITH GETTING ME TO THE RWY FOR A VISUAL APCH. MY MISTAKE WAS IN MISPROGRAMMING THE AUTOPLT. I SHOULD HAVE ENTERED THE PROPER ALT; THEN MONITORED THE ALT MORE CLOSELY DURING THIS VERY BUSY TIME. REMEMBER; THE DOG CONSTANTLY BARKING IN THE BACKGND? WE GAVE THE DOG SOME VALIUM WHILE ON THE GND; WAITED FOR IT TO TAKE EFFECT; THEN CONTINUED THE FLT UNEVENTFULLY. WE BELIEVE THAT THE DOG MAY HAVE SPIT OUT HIS INITIAL DOSE OF VALIUM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.