A PA-46T pilot; distracted by personal concerns and an inquiring passenger programmed the wrong 'dir...

Attributes
ACN	927099
Time
Date	201101
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZNY.ARTCC
State Reference	NY
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-46 Malibu Meridian
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	FMS/FMC
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25 Flight Crew Total 3400 Flight Crew Type 150
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown

Narrative:

Ny departure or center cleared me direct to col. I saw cyn in the flight plan and went direct to cyn. About 20-30 minutes thereafter I had another lapse. While climbing through FL180; I did not switch my altimeter to standard atmospheric pressure; 29.92'. When I leveled off at my interim assigned altitude of FL200; I was 400 ft high. When center questioned my altitude I reported that I was at assigned altitude; then immediately realized my error.there was a considerable amount of stress prior to the flight. My wife was ill and unable to make the preplanned flight. I did not sleep well the night before. The combination of these factors impeded my ability to catch the fact that I initially was flying to the incorrect waypoint. Although I was aware that I was not functioning at my normal capability and thought that I was concentrating enough to overcome my substandard physical and mental state; apparently I was not.another complication was that my son was on board. He has not flown with me recently and was asking a lot of questions that also created some distractions. I should have either canceled the flight or if not; then been more strict on sterile cockpit procedures.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA-46T pilot; distracted by personal concerns and an inquiring passenger programmed the wrong 'direct to' fix and failed to adjust his altimeter to QNE passing through FL180.

Narrative: NY Departure or Center cleared me direct to COL. I saw CYN in the flight plan and went direct to CYN. About 20-30 minutes thereafter I had another lapse. While climbing through FL180; I did not switch my altimeter to standard atmospheric pressure; 29.92'. When I leveled off at my interim assigned altitude of FL200; I was 400 FT high. When Center questioned my altitude I reported that I was at assigned altitude; then immediately realized my error.There was a considerable amount of stress prior to the flight. My wife was ill and unable to make the preplanned flight. I did not sleep well the night before. The combination of these factors impeded my ability to catch the fact that I initially was flying to the incorrect waypoint. Although I was aware that I was not functioning at my normal capability and thought that I was concentrating enough to overcome my substandard physical and mental state; apparently I was not.Another complication was that my son was on board. He has not flown with me recently and was asking a lot of questions that also created some distractions. I should have either canceled the flight or if not; then been more strict on sterile cockpit procedures.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

A PA-46T pilot; distracted by personal concerns and an inquiring passenger programmed the wrong 'direct to' fix and failed to adjust his altimeter to qne passing through FL180.