PA23 pilot deviates from assigned altitude in pvd airspace.

Attributes
ACN	407500
Time
Date	199807
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tmu
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pvd tower : sfo
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-23 Apache (& Geronimo Apache)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 104 flight time total : 1045 flight time type : 71
ASRS Report	407500
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera 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:

I was en route from block island to danbury on jul/wed/98. I had just reached the groton VOR and was turning to V374 at an assigned IFR altitude of 6000 ft. It was night, IMC, in my PA23-180 with no autoplt. I looked down at the IFR en route low altitude sectional too long trying to find kurty intersection. When I again started my scan I noticed I was at 6300 ft, but instead of descending (I was so quickly trying to reach 6000 ft), I instead climbed to 7000 ft! I then immediately began my descent back to 6000 ft. At about 6800 ft, providence control asked me to say altitude. I said, 'leaving 7000 ft for 6000 ft.' he said, 'roger,' then asked me my route. I responded 'V374 to kurty intersection.' then he told me to go direct bridgeport. The rest of the IFR flight was uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA23 PLT DEVIATES FROM ASSIGNED ALT IN PVD AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I WAS ENRTE FROM BLOCK ISLAND TO DANBURY ON JUL/WED/98. I HAD JUST REACHED THE GROTON VOR AND WAS TURNING TO V374 AT AN ASSIGNED IFR ALT OF 6000 FT. IT WAS NIGHT, IMC, IN MY PA23-180 WITH NO AUTOPLT. I LOOKED DOWN AT THE IFR ENRTE LOW ALT SECTIONAL TOO LONG TRYING TO FIND KURTY INTXN. WHEN I AGAIN STARTED MY SCAN I NOTICED I WAS AT 6300 FT, BUT INSTEAD OF DSNDING (I WAS SO QUICKLY TRYING TO REACH 6000 FT), I INSTEAD CLBED TO 7000 FT! I THEN IMMEDIATELY BEGAN MY DSCNT BACK TO 6000 FT. AT ABOUT 6800 FT, PROVIDENCE CTL ASKED ME TO SAY ALT. I SAID, 'LEAVING 7000 FT FOR 6000 FT.' HE SAID, 'ROGER,' THEN ASKED ME MY RTE. I RESPONDED 'V374 TO KURTY INTXN.' THEN HE TOLD ME TO GO DIRECT BRIDGEPORT. THE REST OF THE IFR FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL.

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.