Atx small aircraft altitude deviation overshot during climbout from sfo.

Attributes
ACN	126149
Time
Date	198910
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak tower : avp
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1500 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	126149
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly
Independent Detector	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:

ATC told me to climb and maintain 3500', cross the shoreline, turn right to cross the golden gate bridge, then direct to concord. I engaged the autoplt and looked outside to ensure safe terrain clearance over the hills south of san francisco. I saw the coastline was obscured by fog, and looked harder to see if I could determine when I was over the shoreline. Seeing I could not determine, I notified ATC, who gave me a right turn. About this time I checked my altitude and saw it was 3800'. I disengaged the autoplt and descended immediately to 3500'. The cause of the altitude deviation was inadequate monitoring of the altitude during the climb. I received my 135 letter a month ago, after a very thorough chkout; however, I have limited experience in use of an autoplt and need to learn to monitor it better. I appreciate this opportunity to confess my mistake. I'm still learning, and writing this out and going over it in my mind to write it out helps impress on me the improvements I must make.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX SMA ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT DURING CLIMBOUT FROM SFO.

Narrative: ATC TOLD ME TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 3500', CROSS THE SHORELINE, TURN RIGHT TO CROSS THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, THEN DIRECT TO CONCORD. I ENGAGED THE AUTOPLT AND LOOKED OUTSIDE TO ENSURE SAFE TERRAIN CLRNC OVER THE HILLS S OF SAN FRANCISCO. I SAW THE COASTLINE WAS OBSCURED BY FOG, AND LOOKED HARDER TO SEE IF I COULD DETERMINE WHEN I WAS OVER THE SHORELINE. SEEING I COULD NOT DETERMINE, I NOTIFIED ATC, WHO GAVE ME A RIGHT TURN. ABOUT THIS TIME I CHKED MY ALT AND SAW IT WAS 3800'. I DISENGAGED THE AUTOPLT AND DSNDED IMMEDIATELY TO 3500'. THE CAUSE OF THE ALT DEVIATION WAS INADEQUATE MONITORING OF THE ALT DURING THE CLB. I RECEIVED MY 135 LETTER A MONTH AGO, AFTER A VERY THOROUGH CHKOUT; HOWEVER, I HAVE LIMITED EXPERIENCE IN USE OF AN AUTOPLT AND NEED TO LEARN TO MONITOR IT BETTER. I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONFESS MY MISTAKE. I'M STILL LEARNING, AND WRITING THIS OUT AND GOING OVER IT IN MY MIND TO WRITE IT OUT HELPS IMPRESS ON ME THE IMPROVEMENTS I MUST MAKE.

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.