Pilot failed to level at assigned flight level.

Attributes
ACN	312505
Time
Date	199508
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tus
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 19500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 43 flight time total : 1257 flight time type : 504
ASRS Report	312505
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At the time I was circumnaving thunderstorm in the area. I was talking with center to request a more direct routing that would keep me away from the heavy stuff. Because of the design of my airplane (it does not have a microphone I can use simultaneously with oxygen supply) I was feeling the initial stages of hypoxia which caused some confusion as to where I was. Because my attention was diverted making sure where I was at the same time I weaved through WX, I forgot to reset my altimeter to 29.92 after passing 18000 ft which prompted a call from center reading my altitude at 19000 ft and reset my altimeter. I should not have accepted the SID leaving tus since I knew I would have to divert for WX.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT FAILED TO LEVEL AT ASSIGNED FLT LEVEL.

Narrative: AT THE TIME I WAS CIRCUMNAVING TSTM IN THE AREA. I WAS TALKING WITH CTR TO REQUEST A MORE DIRECT ROUTING THAT WOULD KEEP ME AWAY FROM THE HVY STUFF. BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF MY AIRPLANE (IT DOES NOT HAVE A MICROPHONE I CAN USE SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH OXYGEN SUPPLY) I WAS FEELING THE INITIAL STAGES OF HYPOXIA WHICH CAUSED SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHERE I WAS. BECAUSE MY ATTN WAS DIVERTED MAKING SURE WHERE I WAS AT THE SAME TIME I WEAVED THROUGH WX, I FORGOT TO RESET MY ALTIMETER TO 29.92 AFTER PASSING 18000 FT WHICH PROMPTED A CALL FROM CTR READING MY ALT AT 19000 FT AND RESET MY ALTIMETER. I SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCEPTED THE SID LEAVING TUS SINCE I KNEW I WOULD HAVE TO DIVERT FOR WX.

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.