Private pilot of a small aircraft twin overshot climb altitude and forgot to turn on transponder.

Attributes
ACN	294113
Time
Date	199501
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cle
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cle
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 1100 flight time type : 330
ASRS Report	294113
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
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:

Departed cle on repositioning flight to 29G. Had locked autoplt onto LORAN track to 29G and was trying to check the ATIS at cak (nearest WX to 29G) when I noted that I had climbed to 3500 ft when my clearance was for 3000 ft. The plane's performance gave me too little time to divert my attention to get cak's ATIS. Should have waited until level at 3000 ft. Had to divert to yng as clouds were too low at 29G to land. Later (next day), noticed that transponder was set in standby mode. It could have been that way for the whole cle-yng flight. ATC never mentioned it though, but I don't recall being told I was radar contact.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT OF A SMA TWIN OVERSHOT CLB ALT AND FORGOT TO TURN ON XPONDER.

Narrative: DEPARTED CLE ON REPOSITIONING FLT TO 29G. HAD LOCKED AUTOPLT ONTO LORAN TRACK TO 29G AND WAS TRYING TO CHK THE ATIS AT CAK (NEAREST WX TO 29G) WHEN I NOTED THAT I HAD CLBED TO 3500 FT WHEN MY CLRNC WAS FOR 3000 FT. THE PLANE'S PERFORMANCE GAVE ME TOO LITTLE TIME TO DIVERT MY ATTN TO GET CAK'S ATIS. SHOULD HAVE WAITED UNTIL LEVEL AT 3000 FT. HAD TO DIVERT TO YNG AS CLOUDS WERE TOO LOW AT 29G TO LAND. LATER (NEXT DAY), NOTICED THAT XPONDER WAS SET IN STANDBY MODE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN THAT WAY FOR THE WHOLE CLE-YNG FLT. ATC NEVER MENTIONED IT THOUGH, BUT I DON'T RECALL BEING TOLD I WAS RADAR CONTACT.

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.