Because of cockpit distrs reporter aircraft failed to level off at assigned altitude in descent.

Attributes
ACN	107536
Time
Date	198903
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : irq
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10500 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 10400 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	107536
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At approximately xa hours 3/wed/89, I was en route from soa to dnl in augusta, GA, with a seriously burned patient. My assigned cruising altitude was 13000'. Approximately 60 mi northwest of augusta I told my copilot to request lower altitude from ZTL. We were cleared to descend to and maintain 11000' MSL. We were VFR on top with unlimited visibility. As we descended I asked for the descent checklist and as I was extending the engine ice vanes, I had no indication the vanes were extended and at 10800' I realized I was descending through my assigned altitude. I started to correct immediately, however I went to 10500' before I was able to stop the descent. I immediately returned to 11000'. ZTL made no mention of the incident and neither did I. I have been flying for more than 25 yrs and have flown 10400 hours of accident, incident free flying. It will never happen again, and I won't let a minor malfunction distract my attention. This was my third flight with a burn patient and I am now able to fly the seriously ill in a much more relaxed manner. My discomfort may have been a factor. I can handle any type of lifeguard flts now that I am used to it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BECAUSE OF COCKPIT DISTRS REPORTER ACFT FAILED TO LEVEL OFF AT ASSIGNED ALT IN DESCENT.

Narrative: AT APPROX XA HRS 3/WED/89, I WAS ENRTE FROM SOA TO DNL IN AUGUSTA, GA, WITH A SERIOUSLY BURNED PATIENT. MY ASSIGNED CRUISING ALT WAS 13000'. APPROX 60 MI NW OF AUGUSTA I TOLD MY COPLT TO REQUEST LOWER ALT FROM ZTL. WE WERE CLRED TO DSND TO AND MAINTAIN 11000' MSL. WE WERE VFR ON TOP WITH UNLIMITED VISIBILITY. AS WE DSNDED I ASKED FOR THE DSCNT CHKLIST AND AS I WAS EXTENDING THE ENG ICE VANES, I HAD NO INDICATION THE VANES WERE EXTENDED AND AT 10800' I REALIZED I WAS DSNDING THROUGH MY ASSIGNED ALT. I STARTED TO CORRECT IMMEDIATELY, HOWEVER I WENT TO 10500' BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE DSCNT. I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO 11000'. ZTL MADE NO MENTION OF THE INCIDENT AND NEITHER DID I. I HAVE BEEN FLYING FOR MORE THAN 25 YRS AND HAVE FLOWN 10400 HRS OF ACCIDENT, INCIDENT FREE FLYING. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, AND I WON'T LET A MINOR MALFUNCTION DISTRACT MY ATTN. THIS WAS MY THIRD FLT WITH A BURN PATIENT AND I AM NOW ABLE TO FLY THE SERIOUSLY ILL IN A MUCH MORE RELAXED MANNER. MY DISCOMFORT MAY HAVE BEEN A FACTOR. I CAN HANDLE ANY TYPE OF LIFEGUARD FLTS NOW THAT I AM USED TO IT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.