Instrument rated private pilot overshoots descent altitude during a vector to the initial approach fix for an NDB approach due to distraction from one of his children.

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Attributes
ACN	360050
Time
Date	199702
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hem airport : srb
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3900
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee Arrow IV
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : zme
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 220 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	360050
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	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:

Went approximately 400 ft below assigned altitude. Corrected as soon as realized. While at cruise on vector to hem, was distracted by passenger (kids) and finding approach chart. Night was a contributing factor due to poor light conditions. The real problem is distrs breaking the instrument scan. Contributing factors were nighttime lighting, poor organization and not having the airplane in good trim.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INST RATED PVT PLT OVERSHOOTS DSCNT ALT DURING A VECTOR TO THE INITIAL APCH FIX FOR AN NDB APCH DUE TO DISTR FROM ONE OF HIS CHILDREN.

Narrative: WENT APPROX 400 FT BELOW ASSIGNED ALT. CORRECTED AS SOON AS REALIZED. WHILE AT CRUISE ON VECTOR TO HEM, WAS DISTRACTED BY PAX (KIDS) AND FINDING APCH CHART. NIGHT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR DUE TO POOR LIGHT CONDITIONS. THE REAL PROB IS DISTRS BREAKING THE INST SCAN. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE NIGHTTIME LIGHTING, POOR ORGANIZATION AND NOT HAVING THE AIRPLANE IN GOOD TRIM.

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.