Narrative:

Departing teb; nj; runway 24; WX was clear with 20 miles visibility and departure traffic was light. Teb 5 departure calls for runway heading until reaching 1500 ft; then right heading to 280 degrees (DME equipped aircraft) maintain 1500 ft until passing 4.5 DME of teb; then climb and maintain 2000 ft. After turning right to 280 degrees; I failed to maintain 1500 ft and started to climb to 2000 ft. Departure control called and asked what altitude I was at and I told him 1800 ft. He asked if I know what the procedure called for and I told him a right turn at 1500 ft to a heading of 280 degrees and then climb to 2000 ft. I've flown this departure many times and had always delayed starting the climb to 2000 ft until 4.5 miles from teb. I had read the departure procedure prior to takeoff; but I completely forgot the 4.5 miles restr prior to climbing from 1500 ft to 2000 ft. I've given this a lot of thought as to why the mental error. The only thing that I can think of was that it was a beautiful clear day and I was not as focused on the procedure like I would have been if the WX was IFR. With over 5500 hours of flying; mostly on IFR flight plans; I can't recall busting an altitude. I've committed myself to flying professionally and to learn from this experience. IFR departures in VFR conditions will be followed (focused) as if the departure was in IFR conditions.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C310 PLT DISTRACTED BY THE CLR WX FAILED TO MAINTAIN 1500 FT UNTIL 4.5 DME ON THE TEB 5 AND CLBED TO 2000 FT.

Narrative: DEPARTING TEB; NJ; RWY 24; WX WAS CLR WITH 20 MILES VISIBILITY AND DEP TFC WAS LIGHT. TEB 5 DEP CALLS FOR RWY HEADING UNTIL REACHING 1500 FT; THEN R HEADING TO 280 DEGS (DME EQUIPPED ACFT) MAINTAIN 1500 FT UNTIL PASSING 4.5 DME OF TEB; THEN CLB AND MAINTAIN 2000 FT. AFTER TURNING R TO 280 DEGS; I FAILED TO MAINTAIN 1500 FT AND STARTED TO CLB TO 2000 FT. DEP CTL CALLED AND ASKED WHAT ALT I WAS AT AND I TOLD HIM 1800 FT. HE ASKED IF I KNOW WHAT THE PROC CALLED FOR AND I TOLD HIM A R TURN AT 1500 FT TO A HEADING OF 280 DEGS AND THEN CLB TO 2000 FT. I'VE FLOWN THIS DEP MANY TIMES AND HAD ALWAYS DELAYED STARTING THE CLB TO 2000 FT UNTIL 4.5 MILES FROM TEB. I HAD READ THE DEP PROC PRIOR TO TAKEOFF; BUT I COMPLETELY FORGOT THE 4.5 MILES RESTR PRIOR TO CLBING FROM 1500 FT TO 2000 FT. I'VE GIVEN THIS A LOT OF THOUGHT AS TO WHY THE MENTAL ERROR. THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN THINK OF WAS THAT IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL CLR DAY AND I WAS NOT AS FOCUSED ON THE PROC LIKE I WOULD HAVE BEEN IF THE WX WAS IFR. WITH OVER 5500 HRS OF FLYING; MOSTLY ON IFR FLT PLANS; I CAN'T RECALL BUSTING AN ALT. I'VE COMMITTED MYSELF TO FLYING PROFESSIONALLY AND TO LEARN FROM THIS EXPERIENCE. IFR DEPS IN VFR CONDITIONS WILL BE FOLLOWED (FOCUSED) AS IF THE DEP WAS IN IFR CONDITIONS.

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.