<< >> NASA ASRS Report 241645, May 1993

Pilot of small aircraft aircraft lost control of the aircraft for a few moments while in IMC when attempting to reach for his navigation charts, resulting in an excursion from assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	241645
Time
Date	199305
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ecb
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : hts
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time total : 1145
ASRS Report	241645
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : regained aircraft control
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed columbus-rickenbacker VFR -- destination melbourne, fl. Over wv with flight following it became increasingly difficult to maintain VFR. Was asked for a pilot report about WX at my location. At that point I was between layers with lots of room -- smooth ride. WX deteriorated and I asked and was given IFR clearance. I entered IMC conditions at 9000 ft. Single pilot IFR -- I tried to get instrument charts out of my flight bag and look at course. Lost control of aircraft and descended to about 8500 ft. Recovered immediately and flew clearance well after that. Should have pre-planned and filed IFR. I did not receive a call or attention to altitude deviation but did 'bust' my assigned altitude for short duration of time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA ACFT LOST CTL OF THE ACFT FOR A FEW MOMENTS WHILE IN IMC WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REACH FOR HIS NAV CHARTS, RESULTING IN AN EXCURSION FROM ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: DEPARTED COLUMBUS-RICKENBACKER VFR -- DEST MELBOURNE, FL. OVER WV WITH FLT FOLLOWING IT BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN VFR. WAS ASKED FOR A PLT RPT ABOUT WX AT MY LOCATION. AT THAT POINT I WAS BTWN LAYERS WITH LOTS OF ROOM -- SMOOTH RIDE. WX DETERIORATED AND I ASKED AND WAS GIVEN IFR CLRNC. I ENTERED IMC CONDITIONS AT 9000 FT. SINGLE PLT IFR -- I TRIED TO GET INST CHARTS OUT OF MY FLT BAG AND LOOK AT COURSE. LOST CTL OF ACFT AND DSNDED TO ABOUT 8500 FT. RECOVERED IMMEDIATELY AND FLEW CLRNC WELL AFTER THAT. SHOULD HAVE PRE-PLANNED AND FILED IFR. I DID NOT RECEIVE A CALL OR ATTN TO ALTDEV BUT DID 'BUST' MY ASSIGNED ALT FOR SHORT DURATION OF TIME.

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.