Pilot of an small aircraft overshot climb altitude after takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	267852
Time
Date	199404
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fch
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : fat
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : takeoff ground : preflight
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 1030 flight time type : 10
ASRS Report	267852
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

It was XA00, after dinner with a friend. I had worked all day and decided to take the turbo trinidad (first flight after chkout and no night experience in that specific airplane) for a little journey to mariposa, pick up a friend and go to fresno for dinner. During preflight, the sun had set already, I noticed that 1/2 the panel lights were out and thought that I would have to use the flashlight a 'lot.' a short also appeared to be in the panel light switch itself. Fresno gave me a squawk and 'VFR to 2000 ft.' I didn't pay too much attention because I thought 'it's VFR, and I don't have to worry about it.' besides, I was preoccupied with the light situation in the plane, the unfamiliarity with the plane, the airport and how exactly I would find mariposa airport at night. (Had never flown it at night.) after takeoff I was very busy. Altitude and airspeed were ok. I kept climbing through 2000 ft and fresno approach came back and said that I was restr to 2000 ft but was cleared now to any cruise. I apologized and said I misunderstood the clearance. Later on, the circuit breaker actually popped and our lights went out. I believe the light situation and being rushed at night contributed to this incident. (I was preoccupied and did not verify the clearance.)

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMA OVERSHOT CLB ALT AFTER TKOF.

Narrative: IT WAS XA00, AFTER DINNER WITH A FRIEND. I HAD WORKED ALL DAY AND DECIDED TO TAKE THE TURBO TRINIDAD (FIRST FLT AFTER CHKOUT AND NO NIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THAT SPECIFIC AIRPLANE) FOR A LITTLE JOURNEY TO MARIPOSA, PICK UP A FRIEND AND GO TO FRESNO FOR DINNER. DURING PREFLT, THE SUN HAD SET ALREADY, I NOTICED THAT 1/2 THE PANEL LIGHTS WERE OUT AND THOUGHT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO USE THE FLASHLIGHT A 'LOT.' A SHORT ALSO APPEARED TO BE IN THE PANEL LIGHT SWITCH ITSELF. FRESNO GAVE ME A SQUAWK AND 'VFR TO 2000 FT.' I DIDN'T PAY TOO MUCH ATTN BECAUSE I THOUGHT 'IT'S VFR, AND I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.' BESIDES, I WAS PREOCCUPIED WITH THE LIGHT SIT IN THE PLANE, THE UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE PLANE, THE ARPT AND HOW EXACTLY I WOULD FIND MARIPOSA ARPT AT NIGHT. (HAD NEVER FLOWN IT AT NIGHT.) AFTER TKOF I WAS VERY BUSY. ALT AND AIRSPD WERE OK. I KEPT CLBING THROUGH 2000 FT AND FRESNO APCH CAME BACK AND SAID THAT I WAS RESTR TO 2000 FT BUT WAS CLRED NOW TO ANY CRUISE. I APOLOGIZED AND SAID I MISUNDERSTOOD THE CLRNC. LATER ON, THE CIRCUIT BREAKER ACTUALLY POPPED AND OUR LIGHTS WENT OUT. I BELIEVE THE LIGHT SIT AND BEING RUSHED AT NIGHT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS INCIDENT. (I WAS PREOCCUPIED AND DID NOT VERIFY THE CLRNC.)

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.