Pilot overshot clearance altitude while programming a fix into RNAV.

Attributes
ACN	316010
Time
Date	199509
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gso
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : gso
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	316010
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a clear night, our IFR clearance was 'radar vectors to the gso 190 degree radial, 25 DME fix, as filed....' during the climb, we were cleared to 10000 ft. Shortly thereafter, our clearance was changed to 9000 ft. A few mins later we were given another radar vector (as we had received a number of headings earlier). Then we were cleared direct to the fix. In that we had expected radar vectors to the fix, it was not yet completely set up in the RNAV or long range navigation. While completing the fix setup, we climbed through 9000 ft to approximately 9300 ft. We corrected immediately and called visual contact with previously issued traffic. We were then cleared to 10000 ft. This altitude deviation occurred during a high workload (single pilot) segment of the flight when a clearance (direct to the fix) was not anticipated. No conflict occurred, but too much attention focused on 1 activity, caused less attention than appropriate to be paid to other duties.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OVERSHOT CLRNC ALT WHILE PROGRAMMING A FIX INTO RNAV.

Narrative: ON A CLR NIGHT, OUR IFR CLRNC WAS 'RADAR VECTORS TO THE GSO 190 DEG RADIAL, 25 DME FIX, AS FILED....' DURING THE CLB, WE WERE CLRED TO 10000 FT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, OUR CLRNC WAS CHANGED TO 9000 FT. A FEW MINS LATER WE WERE GIVEN ANOTHER RADAR VECTOR (AS WE HAD RECEIVED A NUMBER OF HDGS EARLIER). THEN WE WERE CLRED DIRECT TO THE FIX. IN THAT WE HAD EXPECTED RADAR VECTORS TO THE FIX, IT WAS NOT YET COMPLETELY SET UP IN THE RNAV OR LONG RANGE NAV. WHILE COMPLETING THE FIX SETUP, WE CLBED THROUGH 9000 FT TO APPROX 9300 FT. WE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY AND CALLED VISUAL CONTACT WITH PREVIOUSLY ISSUED TFC. WE WERE THEN CLRED TO 10000 FT. THIS ALTDEV OCCURRED DURING A HIGH WORKLOAD (SINGLE PLT) SEGMENT OF THE FLT WHEN A CLRNC (DIRECT TO THE FIX) WAS NOT ANTICIPATED. NO CONFLICT OCCURRED, BUT TOO MUCH ATTN FOCUSED ON 1 ACTIVITY, CAUSED LESS ATTN THAN APPROPRIATE TO BE PAID TO OTHER DUTIES.

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.