BE33 pilot descending on an IFR flight plan undertakes a diving evasive maneuver to avoid VFR traffic. Overshoots cleared altitude as a result.

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Attributes
ACN	786005
Time
Date	200805
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bonanza 33
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	786005
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

While on descent to 5000 ft (socal control) sighted traffic at 2 O'clock position about 1 mi on what appeared to be collision course. I made sharp turn and dived to keep traffic in sight. I descended to 4500 ft in this evasive maneuver. I was cautioned by socal about the loss in altitude. However; because of haze/smog I thought the traffic was at my altitude. The controller said that traffic was VFR. After clearing that traffic; I immediately returned to 5000 ft. Under the circumstances; I felt it was prudent to take this evasive action to keep the traffic in sight to avoid collision.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE33 PLT DESCENDING ON AN IFR FLT PLAN UNDERTAKES A DIVING EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID VFR TRAFFIC. OVERSHOOTS CLRED ALT AS A RESULT.

Narrative: WHILE ON DSCNT TO 5000 FT (SOCAL CTL) SIGHTED TFC AT 2 O'CLOCK POS ABOUT 1 MI ON WHAT APPEARED TO BE COLLISION COURSE. I MADE SHARP TURN AND DIVED TO KEEP TFC IN SIGHT. I DSNDED TO 4500 FT IN THIS EVASIVE MANEUVER. I WAS CAUTIONED BY SOCAL ABOUT THE LOSS IN ALT. HOWEVER; BECAUSE OF HAZE/SMOG I THOUGHT THE TFC WAS AT MY ALT. THE CTLR SAID THAT TFC WAS VFR. AFTER CLRING THAT TFC; I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO 5000 FT. UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES; I FELT IT WAS PRUDENT TO TAKE THIS EVASIVE ACTION TO KEEP THE TFC IN SIGHT TO AVOID COLLISION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.