Pilot of atx cargo flight twin strays off altitude and heading due to fatigue boredom and complacenc...

Attributes
ACN	211382
Time
Date	199205
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : crp
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zhu
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 3200 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	211382
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During cruise flight from aus to crp about XY00 am, I found myself 500 ft low of 5000 ft and about 35 degree right of a direct course to the corpus christi VORTAC. The problem was I had been on duty from AB00 pm the previous night and was absolutely beat. I left austin tired but thought there would be no problem in getting to corpus. A large cup of coffee was my insurance to stay alert for the entirety of the flight. I had flown tired before with no problems but the droning engines, light rain, and for the most part, smooth ride, these factors took their toll on my alertness. I don't think I ever fell asleep, but I was close to it and was fighting to maintain heading and altitude. I can't think of any other descriptions I can give except I was just so tired I just made a mistake big enough to submit this report. Corrective actions to prevent this from happening again is to get enough sleep.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF ATX CARGO FLT TWIN STRAYS OFF ALT AND HDG DUE TO FATIGUE BOREDOM AND COMPLACENCY.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE FLT FROM AUS TO CRP ABOUT XY00 AM, I FOUND MYSELF 500 FT LOW OF 5000 FT AND ABOUT 35 DEG R OF A DIRECT COURSE TO THE CORPUS CHRISTI VORTAC. THE PROBLEM WAS I HAD BEEN ON DUTY FROM AB00 PM THE PREVIOUS NIGHT AND WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAT. I LEFT AUSTIN TIRED BUT THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM IN GETTING TO CORPUS. A LARGE CUP OF COFFEE WAS MY INSURANCE TO STAY ALERT FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE FLT. I HAD FLOWN TIRED BEFORE WITH NO PROBLEMS BUT THE DRONING ENGS, LIGHT RAIN, AND FOR THE MOST PART, SMOOTH RIDE, THESE FACTORS TOOK THEIR TOLL ON MY ALERTNESS. I DON'T THINK I EVER FELL ASLEEP, BUT I WAS CLOSE TO IT AND WAS FIGHTING TO MAINTAIN HDG AND ALT. I CAN'T THINK OF ANY OTHER DESCRIPTIONS I CAN GIVE EXCEPT I WAS JUST SO TIRED I JUST MADE A MISTAKE BIG ENOUGH TO SUBMIT THIS RPT. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN IS TO GET ENOUGH SLEEP.

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.

Pilot of atx cargo flight twin strays off altitude and heading due to fatigue boredom and complacency.