Pilot avoiding WX deviates off assigned altitude in N90 airspace.

Attributes
ACN	406280
Time
Date	199806
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : jfk
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5600 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : n90
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 : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 3400 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	406280
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

This was an IFR flight from dxr to phf. South of jfk was a thunderstorm. ATC at first vectored us out over the water (to the east) of jfk. It appeared that we could not go around the storm, and we got close to the WX. ATC then gave us vectors to the west. I had a lot of anxiety, was distracted and let the plane go from 6000 ft to 5600 ft when ATC gave me a call.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT AVOIDING WX DEVIATES OFF ASSIGNED ALT IN N90 AIRSPACE.

Narrative: THIS WAS AN IFR FLT FROM DXR TO PHF. S OF JFK WAS A TSTM. ATC AT FIRST VECTORED US OUT OVER THE WATER (TO THE E) OF JFK. IT APPEARED THAT WE COULD NOT GO AROUND THE STORM, AND WE GOT CLOSE TO THE WX. ATC THEN GAVE US VECTORS TO THE W. I HAD A LOT OF ANXIETY, WAS DISTRACTED AND LET THE PLANE GO FROM 6000 FT TO 5600 FT WHEN ATC GAVE ME A CALL.

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.