<< >> NASA ASRS Report 118745, August 1989

Pilot of light twin engine aircraft on VFR departure is distracted by a minor equipment problem and a nervous passenger. Result: overshoots assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	118745
Time
Date	198908
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bur
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 30003
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bur
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 13 flight time total : 800 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	118745
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Had gotten the ATIS and following clearance (VFR) from clearance delivery prior to taxi: 'after departure proceed on course at or below 2500', departure 135.05 squawk XXXX'. About 1000 AGL on course (about 2000 MSL) were instructed by tower to contact departure, which was already dialed into #2 comm. Switched frequencys (still climbing around 1300 FPM, turning on course, performing climb checklist, watching for VFR traffic in haze/smoke, and consoling/counseling my passenger, a first-time flier). I was unable to reach departure after repeated tries. Switched comm 1 to 135.05 (departure) and got them first try, obviously #2 comm had died or went intermittent. I reported 'nxxxx with you out of three point zero for five point five' and was answered, 'roger, radar contact, cancel altitude restriction,...'. It was then I realized I was through my 2500' restriction.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF LIGHT TWIN ENGINE ACFT ON VFR DEP IS DISTRACTED BY A MINOR EQUIPMENT PROBLEM AND A NERVOUS PASSENGER. RESULT: OVERSHOOTS ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: HAD GOTTEN THE ATIS AND FOLLOWING CLRNC (VFR) FROM CLRNC DELIVERY PRIOR TO TAXI: 'AFTER DEP PROCEED ON COURSE AT OR BELOW 2500', DEP 135.05 SQUAWK XXXX'. ABOUT 1000 AGL ON COURSE (ABOUT 2000 MSL) WERE INSTRUCTED BY TWR TO CONTACT DEP, WHICH WAS ALREADY DIALED INTO #2 COMM. SWITCHED FREQS (STILL CLIMBING AROUND 1300 FPM, TURNING ON COURSE, PERFORMING CLIMB CHECKLIST, WATCHING FOR VFR TFC IN HAZE/SMOKE, AND CONSOLING/COUNSELING MY PAX, A FIRST-TIME FLIER). I WAS UNABLE TO REACH DEP AFTER REPEATED TRIES. SWITCHED COMM 1 TO 135.05 (DEP) AND GOT THEM FIRST TRY, OBVIOUSLY #2 COMM HAD DIED OR WENT INTERMITTENT. I REPORTED 'NXXXX WITH YOU OUT OF THREE POINT ZERO FOR FIVE POINT FIVE' AND WAS ANSWERED, 'ROGER, RADAR CONTACT, CANCEL ALT RESTRICTION,...'. IT WAS THEN I REALIZED I WAS THROUGH MY 2500' RESTRICTION.

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.