Close proximity GA-small aircraft unk-aircraft after reporter had overshot clearance altitude during...

Attributes
ACN	160493
Time
Date	199010
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cdw
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 800
ASRS Report	160493
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1000 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was VFR from fdk to cdw VFR using flight following. I told ATC that I would like to descend from 9500 to 3500', in preparation for my approach. I was given a left turn of 40 degrees for descent, and direct to cdw after passing 4500'. At about 5000' I was given direct to cdw. I then noticed some fuel stains on my left wing which distracted me. I passed 3500' and leveled at 3000'. I then noticed an aircraft approaching from a 9 O'clock position at about 300' above me. At the same time, the controller asked my altitude. I told him 3000'. He got quite angry, and rightfully so. He said that when I was in his airspace, I was to hold the last given altitude. I acknowledged. I have never had any problems with following directives from ATC. This was strictly a matter of getting distracted by something very minor. This could have been a major disaster if I had not seen the traffic. My personal plans for future flts are to stay alert and concentrate on factors that are important.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX GA-SMA UNK-ACFT AFTER REPORTER HAD OVERSHOT CLRNC ALT DURING DESCENT.

Narrative: I WAS VFR FROM FDK TO CDW VFR USING FLT FOLLOWING. I TOLD ATC THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DSND FROM 9500 TO 3500', IN PREPARATION FOR MY APCH. I WAS GIVEN A LEFT TURN OF 40 DEGS FOR DSNT, AND DIRECT TO CDW AFTER PASSING 4500'. AT ABOUT 5000' I WAS GIVEN DIRECT TO CDW. I THEN NOTICED SOME FUEL STAINS ON MY LEFT WING WHICH DISTRACTED ME. I PASSED 3500' AND LEVELED AT 3000'. I THEN NOTICED AN ACFT APCHING FROM A 9 O'CLOCK POS AT ABOUT 300' ABOVE ME. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CTLR ASKED MY ALT. I TOLD HIM 3000'. HE GOT QUITE ANGRY, AND RIGHTFULLY SO. HE SAID THAT WHEN I WAS IN HIS AIRSPACE, I WAS TO HOLD THE LAST GIVEN ALT. I ACKNOWLEDGED. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBS WITH FOLLOWING DIRECTIVES FROM ATC. THIS WAS STRICTLY A MATTER OF GETTING DISTRACTED BY SOMETHING VERY MINOR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR DISASTER IF I HAD NOT SEEN THE TFC. MY PERSONAL PLANS FOR FUTURE FLTS ARE TO STAY ALERT AND CONCENTRATE ON FACTORS THAT ARE IMPORTANT.

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.

Close proximity GA-small aircraft unk-aircraft after reporter had overshot clearance altitude during descent.