Small aircraft pilot climbs through assigned altitude. Flies directly toward prohibited airspace. Co...

Attributes
ACN	211689
Time
Date	199203
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2300 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca artcc : lggg
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 17 flight time total : 93 flight time type : 22
ASRS Report	211689
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
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:

Leaving baltimore I was granted direct hef at or below 2000. I took off, the controller called and requested I 'cycle the transponder.' I had left it in standby. I proceeded to climb through 2000, at 2300 the controller called again, 'since you have already busted your altitude, climb to 3000 and proceed direct manassas.' I responded 'sorry and thank you.' by now I was feeling pretty badly. I was then handed off to washington approach, the requested I tune in dca and proceed direct. This lined me on approach for one of their runways. They then vectored me to the right. By now I was heading for the prohibited space over the capitol, mall, white house, naval observatory, only I didn't realize it until ATC said something. Once around dc I was able to proceed direct hef. The rest of the flight proceed without any abnormalities. I was pretty tired by now. Looking back on these flts, I have come to realize that my not so current experience with the ATC system and the flight environment has contributed to my mistakes. 2 things will have to be done, 1) landing, and 2) forgive myself and go on for the not so critical ones, remembering what I have done, trying to avoid it again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT CLBS THROUGH ASSIGNED ALT. FLIES DIRECTLY TOWARD PROHIBITED AIRSPACE. CTLR INTERVENES.

Narrative: LEAVING BALTIMORE I WAS GRANTED DIRECT HEF AT OR BELOW 2000. I TOOK OFF, THE CTLR CALLED AND REQUESTED I 'CYCLE THE TRANSPONDER.' I HAD LEFT IT IN STANDBY. I PROCEEDED TO CLB THROUGH 2000, AT 2300 THE CTLR CALLED AGAIN, 'SINCE YOU HAVE ALREADY BUSTED YOUR ALT, CLB TO 3000 AND PROCEED DIRECT MANASSAS.' I RESPONDED 'SORRY AND THANK YOU.' BY NOW I WAS FEELING PRETTY BADLY. I WAS THEN HANDED OFF TO WASHINGTON APCH, THE REQUESTED I TUNE IN DCA AND PROCEED DIRECT. THIS LINED ME ON APCH FOR ONE OF THEIR RWYS. THEY THEN VECTORED ME TO THE R. BY NOW I WAS HDG FOR THE PROHIBITED SPACE OVER THE CAPITOL, MALL, WHITE HOUSE, NAVAL OBSERVATORY, ONLY I DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL ATC SAID SOMETHING. ONCE AROUND DC I WAS ABLE TO PROCEED DIRECT HEF. THE REST OF THE FLT PROCEED WITHOUT ANY ABNORMALITIES. I WAS PRETTY TIRED BY NOW. LOOKING BACK ON THESE FLTS, I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT MY NOT SO CURRENT EXPERIENCE WITH THE ATC SYS AND THE FLT ENVIRONMENT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO MY MISTAKES. 2 THINGS WILL HAVE TO BE DONE, 1) LNDG, AND 2) FORGIVE MYSELF AND GO ON FOR THE NOT SO CRITICAL ONES, REMEMBERING WHAT I HAVE DONE, TRYING TO AVOID IT AGAIN.

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.

Small aircraft pilot climbs through assigned altitude. Flies directly toward prohibited airspace. Controller intervenes.