Altitude deviation altitude overshot.

Attributes
ACN	204657
Time
Date	199203
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ocn airport : san
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : san
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute : on vectors enroute airway : v23
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	204657
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was climbing out of san diego lindbergh IFR -- was cleared to 2000 ft direct to oceanside VOR -- changed frequency to 119.6, was cleared to 4000 ft. Upon leaving 2000 ft, the HSI became inoperative with a navigation flag appearing. Changing radios and troubleshooting, I inadvertently climbed through 4000 ft to about 4500 ft. The controller asked me what my altitude was, and I told him I had overshot it by 500 ft. He requested me to descend to 4000 ft, which I did immediately. No further communication was made except to contact san diego departure on 127.3. I was the cleared to 7000 ft. Solution: fly first, troubleshoot second, write down altitude on my clipboard and verify it when reaching. Call out altitude as I approach assigned altitude. Practice partial panel flying while complying with changes in headings and altitudes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT.

Narrative: I WAS CLBING OUT OF SAN DIEGO LINDBERGH IFR -- WAS CLRED TO 2000 FT DIRECT TO OCEANSIDE VOR -- CHANGED FREQ TO 119.6, WAS CLRED TO 4000 FT. UPON LEAVING 2000 FT, THE HSI BECAME INOP WITH A NAV FLAG APPEARING. CHANGING RADIOS AND TROUBLESHOOTING, I INADVERTENTLY CLBED THROUGH 4000 FT TO ABOUT 4500 FT. THE CTLR ASKED ME WHAT MY ALT WAS, AND I TOLD HIM I HAD OVERSHOT IT BY 500 FT. HE REQUESTED ME TO DSND TO 4000 FT, WHICH I DID IMMEDIATELY. NO FURTHER COM WAS MADE EXCEPT TO CONTACT SAN DIEGO DEP ON 127.3. I WAS THE CLRED TO 7000 FT. SOLUTION: FLY FIRST, TROUBLESHOOT SECOND, WRITE DOWN ALT ON MY CLIPBOARD AND VERIFY IT WHEN REACHING. CALL OUT ALT AS I APCH ASSIGNED ALT. PRACTICE PARTIAL PANEL FLYING WHILE COMPLYING WITH CHANGES IN HDGS AND ALTS.

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.