Corp small aircraft descended through assigned altitude on visual approach.

Attributes
ACN	121867
Time
Date	198909
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : orl
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mco
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1600 flight time type : 25
ASRS Report	121867
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was cleared for visual approach to 18R but was told to stay at or above 2500 MSL until orl VOR. I was currently at 3500' and very close to VOR (approximately 2.5 NM). Being overly concerned with not losing altitude in time, I dropped the gear and concentrated on the visual approach. I didn't realize I had 'busted my altitude' by 1000' until passing the VOR. Approach mentioned it to me about 10 seconds after I realized it. It was too late for me to correct (or even turn off mode C). Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter states not usual procedure to turn off mode C but many charter and corp pilots do it when they bust an altitude rather than get a violation. Feels it is much more talk than reality. Tried to assure analyst it rarely happens.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP SMA DESCENDED THROUGH ASSIGNED ALT ON VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: I WAS CLRED FOR VISUAL APCH TO 18R BUT WAS TOLD TO STAY AT OR ABOVE 2500 MSL UNTIL ORL VOR. I WAS CURRENTLY AT 3500' AND VERY CLOSE TO VOR (APPROX 2.5 NM). BEING OVERLY CONCERNED WITH NOT LOSING ALT IN TIME, I DROPPED THE GEAR AND CONCENTRATED ON THE VISUAL APCH. I DIDN'T REALIZE I HAD 'BUSTED MY ALT' BY 1000' UNTIL PASSING THE VOR. APCH MENTIONED IT TO ME ABOUT 10 SECONDS AFTER I REALIZED IT. IT WAS TOO LATE FOR ME TO CORRECT (OR EVEN TURN OFF MODE C). CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: REPORTER STATES NOT USUAL PROC TO TURN OFF MODE C BUT MANY CHARTER AND CORP PLTS DO IT WHEN THEY BUST AN ALT RATHER THAN GET A VIOLATION. FEELS IT IS MUCH MORE TALK THAN REALITY. TRIED TO ASSURE ANALYST IT RARELY HAPPENS.

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.