Narrative:

This reporter, as PIC, departed I77 for a westbound flight to 1MS. During flight planning I inadvertently selected 3500' MSL as cruise altitude, in violation of far 91.109. After departure from I77, I contacted cvg approach to request vector through the cvg arsa and radar flight following. I provided all of the information required--including the 3500' MSL cruising altitude, and established radar contact. The controller provided clearance as requested. During level off at 3500', I was given a new heading (210 degrees) and a frequency change. I acknowledged the heading and frequency. I was busy setting throttle, mixture, pitch and trim, turn to heading and changing radio frequency when the controller asked if I was on new frequency. I had left the microphone hanging cross the yoke. I might have answered the controller into the wrong side of the microphone. When contact was reestablished, the controller scolded me for not answering an acknowledgement of his instructions. The flight was completed west/O incident. Contact was terminated when I began descend over destination. It's not likely that I will forget far 91.109 again. After announcing my mistake to ATC, the chances of denial are slim. The pilot/controller communications problem can be (and will be) corrected by the acquisition of a headset with microphone.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NEW GA PLT FLT PLANS FOR WRONG VFR ALT FOR DIRECTION OF FLT AND FAILS TO CHANGE FREQS AS DIRECTED BY ATC.

Narrative: THIS RPTR, AS PIC, DEPARTED I77 FOR A WBND FLT TO 1MS. DURING FLT PLANNING I INADVERTENTLY SELECTED 3500' MSL AS CRUISE ALT, IN VIOLATION OF FAR 91.109. AFTER DEP FROM I77, I CONTACTED CVG APCH TO REQUEST VECTOR THROUGH THE CVG ARSA AND RADAR FLT FOLLOWING. I PROVIDED ALL OF THE INFO REQUIRED--INCLUDING THE 3500' MSL CRUISING ALT, AND ESTABLISHED RADAR CONTACT. THE CTLR PROVIDED CLRNC AS REQUESTED. DURING LEVEL OFF AT 3500', I WAS GIVEN A NEW HDG (210 DEGS) AND A FREQ CHANGE. I ACKNOWLEDGED THE HDG AND FREQ. I WAS BUSY SETTING THROTTLE, MIXTURE, PITCH AND TRIM, TURN TO HDG AND CHANGING RADIO FREQ WHEN THE CTLR ASKED IF I WAS ON NEW FREQ. I HAD LEFT THE MIC HANGING CROSS THE YOKE. I MIGHT HAVE ANSWERED THE CTLR INTO THE WRONG SIDE OF THE MIC. WHEN CONTACT WAS REESTABLISHED, THE CTLR SCOLDED ME FOR NOT ANSWERING AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF HIS INSTRUCTIONS. THE FLT WAS COMPLETED W/O INCIDENT. CONTACT WAS TERMINATED WHEN I BEGAN DSND OVER DEST. IT'S NOT LIKELY THAT I WILL FORGET FAR 91.109 AGAIN. AFTER ANNOUNCING MY MISTAKE TO ATC, THE CHANCES OF DENIAL ARE SLIM. THE PLT/CTLR COMS PROB CAN BE (AND WILL BE) CORRECTED BY THE ACQUISITION OF A HEADSET WITH MIC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.