Flight instructor allowed trainee to descend below altitude to which cleared.

Attributes
ACN	215067
Time
Date	199207
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : enw
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mke artcc : zid
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	215067
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Student became argumentative on the initial segment of the approach. At the same time, ATC said to maintain 4000 until procedure turn inbound. I then began my descent to procedure turn altitude not realizing my mistake until I reached 3000. Lesson learned -- don't argue with a student while in the air. In fact, don't every argue with a student. Flight should have been terminated prior to the approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT INSTRUCTOR ALLOWED TRAINEE TO DSND BELOW ALT TO WHICH CLRED.

Narrative: STUDENT BECAME ARGUMENTATIVE ON THE INITIAL SEGMENT OF THE APCH. AT THE SAME TIME, ATC SAID TO MAINTAIN 4000 UNTIL PROC TURN INBOUND. I THEN BEGAN MY DSCNT TO PROC TURN ALT NOT REALIZING MY MISTAKE UNTIL I REACHED 3000. LESSON LEARNED -- DON'T ARGUE WITH A STUDENT WHILE IN THE AIR. IN FACT, DON'T EVERY ARGUE WITH A STUDENT. FLT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TERMINATED PRIOR TO THE APCH.

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.