Instructor and student pilots on IFR training flight are distraction by training duties and fail to level at 4000 ft as cleared. Loss of separation with jet at 5000 ft results.

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Attributes
ACN	715227
Time
Date	200610
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mdw.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : c90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : c90.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 456 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	715227
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne critical non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

This was a training flight originating from midway airport and terminating at pontiac/oakland airport in michigan. After takeoff we were assigned 4000 ft and 110 degree heading out of midway. As we approached 4000 ft; I was teaching and it was busy in the cockpit as we were looking at charts and going over our assigned route. The student was new to IFR crosscountries; and I was trying to explain everything that was happening. The student and I both omitted the altitude as we passed through our assigned 4000 ft mark unknowingly. Just as I looked up to see our altitude was too high; ATC asked us what our altitude was; and we told them 4400 ft. The altitude was corrected immediately without incident. ATC informed us that a jet was passing overhead at 5000 ft and our deviation had caused a loss of separation. The approach controller gave us a phone number to chicago TRACON. I canceled IFR and landed VFR into south bend; indiana; and made the call. A loss of situational awareness on my part was obviously the cause. I was the PIC and I take full responsibility for the mistake. It will definitely be a lesson learned and will not happen again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PLTS ON IFR TRAINING FLT ARE DISTR BY TRAINING DUTIES AND FAIL TO LEVEL AT 4000 FT AS CLRED. LOSS OF SEPARATION WITH JET AT 5000 FT RESULTS.

Narrative: THIS WAS A TRAINING FLT ORIGINATING FROM MIDWAY ARPT AND TERMINATING AT PONTIAC/OAKLAND ARPT IN MICHIGAN. AFTER TKOF WE WERE ASSIGNED 4000 FT AND 110 DEG HDG OUT OF MIDWAY. AS WE APCHED 4000 FT; I WAS TEACHING AND IT WAS BUSY IN THE COCKPIT AS WE WERE LOOKING AT CHARTS AND GOING OVER OUR ASSIGNED RTE. THE STUDENT WAS NEW TO IFR CROSSCOUNTRIES; AND I WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING. THE STUDENT AND I BOTH OMITTED THE ALT AS WE PASSED THROUGH OUR ASSIGNED 4000 FT MARK UNKNOWINGLY. JUST AS I LOOKED UP TO SEE OUR ALT WAS TOO HIGH; ATC ASKED US WHAT OUR ALT WAS; AND WE TOLD THEM 4400 FT. THE ALT WAS CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT INCIDENT. ATC INFORMED US THAT A JET WAS PASSING OVERHEAD AT 5000 FT AND OUR DEV HAD CAUSED A LOSS OF SEPARATION. THE APCH CTLR GAVE US A PHONE NUMBER TO CHICAGO TRACON. I CANCELED IFR AND LANDED VFR INTO SOUTH BEND; INDIANA; AND MADE THE CALL. A LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS ON MY PART WAS OBVIOUSLY THE CAUSE. I WAS THE PIC AND I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MISTAKE. IT WILL DEFINITELY BE A LESSON LEARNED AND WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

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.