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While departing van nuys airport on an IFR flight plan, the pilot of a light aircraft overshot his assigned altitude. The pilot reported becoming distracted while scanning for inbound traffic in visual, dusk conditions.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 326900 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199602 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : vny |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5700 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : sck |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | departure other departure sid : sid enroute airway : bur |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4300 flight time type : 600 |
| ASRS Report | 326900 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : departure |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course |
| Consequence | Other |
| Miss Distance | vertical : 300 |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I departed vny airport at dusk on an IFR flight plan. I was on a SID (glendale 7, elmoo transition) climbing to my assigned altitude of 5000 ft. I requested 7000 ft MSL, and was told to expect 7000 ft MSL when clear of traffic (at 6000 ft MSL). As I was in VFR conditions, I was looking for traffic outside the cockpit. I saw 2 aircraft landing lights (2 separate aircraft) off my left wing and tried to determine if they were going to be a factor. As I returned my scan to the cockpit instruments, I saw I was at 5600 ft MSL, 600 ft above my assigned altitude. I started a correction immediately and stopped my climb by 5700 ft MSL. At this time the ATC controller asked my altitude. I informed him I was at 5700 ft MSL and correcting. I returned to 5000 ft MSL and leveled off. Because I was in VFR conditions in a high density area I was scanning for conflicting aircraft outside.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: WHILE DEPARTING VAN NUYS ARPT ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, THE PLT OF A LIGHT ACFT OVERSHOT HIS ASSIGNED ALT. THE PLT RPTED BECOMING DISTRACTED WHILE SCANNING FOR INBOUND TFC IN VISUAL, DUSK CONDITIONS.
Narrative: I DEPARTED VNY ARPT AT DUSK ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. I WAS ON A SID (GLENDALE 7, ELMOO TRANSITION) CLBING TO MY ASSIGNED ALT OF 5000 FT. I REQUESTED 7000 FT MSL, AND WAS TOLD TO EXPECT 7000 FT MSL WHEN CLR OF TFC (AT 6000 FT MSL). AS I WAS IN VFR CONDITIONS, I WAS LOOKING FOR TFC OUTSIDE THE COCKPIT. I SAW 2 ACFT LNDG LIGHTS (2 SEPARATE ACFT) OFF MY L WING AND TRIED TO DETERMINE IF THEY WERE GOING TO BE A FACTOR. AS I RETURNED MY SCAN TO THE COCKPIT INSTS, I SAW I WAS AT 5600 FT MSL, 600 FT ABOVE MY ASSIGNED ALT. I STARTED A CORRECTION IMMEDIATELY AND STOPPED MY CLB BY 5700 FT MSL. AT THIS TIME THE ATC CTLR ASKED MY ALT. I INFORMED HIM I WAS AT 5700 FT MSL AND CORRECTING. I RETURNED TO 5000 FT MSL AND LEVELED OFF. BECAUSE I WAS IN VFR CONDITIONS IN A HIGH DENSITY AREA I WAS SCANNING FOR CONFLICTING ACFT OUTSIDE.
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.