Pilot of an small transport twin overshot descent assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	294720
Time
Date	199501
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2600 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 58 flight time total : 3030 flight time type : 74
ASRS Report	294720
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Approach had cleared me to descend to 3000 ft. My passenger asked me a question and as my attention was diverted I continued my descent through 3000 ft to 2600 ft before I corrected and quickly returned to my assigned altitude. In the future I will brief all my passenger to not engage in conversation with the pilot during critical phases of flight except in an emergency or when they need to convey information helpful to the safety of the flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMT TWIN OVERSHOT DSCNT ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: APCH HAD CLRED ME TO DSND TO 3000 FT. MY PAX ASKED ME A QUESTION AND AS MY ATTN WAS DIVERTED I CONTINUED MY DSCNT THROUGH 3000 FT TO 2600 FT BEFORE I CORRECTED AND QUICKLY RETURNED TO MY ASSIGNED ALT. IN THE FUTURE I WILL BRIEF ALL MY PAX TO NOT ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION WITH THE PLT DURING CRITICAL PHASES OF FLT EXCEPT IN AN EMER OR WHEN THEY NEED TO CONVEY INFO HELPFUL TO THE SAFETY OF THE FLT.

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.