Cargo flight of a C208 at cruise is contacted by ATC regarding altitude excursion. He climbs back to...

Attributes
ACN	412430
Time
Date	199808
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vis
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : fat
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Cessna Twin Turboprop Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 7
ASRS Report	412430
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
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	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was instructed to descend at pilot's discretion to 3000 ft. En route to visalia, I began to think of the approach. Being a new pilot for the company and having very little time in type were contributing factors, but I think that actually I was ahead of the aircraft -- maybe too much. I was visualizing the traffic pattern and my entry and conscientiously descended to 2500 ft approximately 8 mi from the airport. I thought of the clearance 'descend at pilot's discretion,' and completely forgot about my altitude restr. Fresno departure queried me on my altitude, and when I responded 2500 ft, he came back with 'did I miss something...I thought you were given 3000 ft.' I responded with power and lots of pitch and blurted xyz climbing 3000 ft. Nothing regarding the altitude excursion came up thereafter. No one had to divert, there were no conflicts. I was fortunate. Moral of the story: be ahead of the aircraft, but also be in the cockpit as well!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CARGO FLT OF A C208 AT CRUISE IS CONTACTED BY ATC REGARDING ALT EXCURSION. HE CLBS BACK TO ASSIGNED.

Narrative: I WAS INSTRUCTED TO DSND AT PLT'S DISCRETION TO 3000 FT. ENRTE TO VISALIA, I BEGAN TO THINK OF THE APCH. BEING A NEW PLT FOR THE COMPANY AND HAVING VERY LITTLE TIME IN TYPE WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS, BUT I THINK THAT ACTUALLY I WAS AHEAD OF THE ACFT -- MAYBE TOO MUCH. I WAS VISUALIZING THE TFC PATTERN AND MY ENTRY AND CONSCIENTIOUSLY DSNDED TO 2500 FT APPROX 8 MI FROM THE ARPT. I THOUGHT OF THE CLRNC 'DSND AT PLT'S DISCRETION,' AND COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT MY ALT RESTR. FRESNO DEP QUERIED ME ON MY ALT, AND WHEN I RESPONDED 2500 FT, HE CAME BACK WITH 'DID I MISS SOMETHING...I THOUGHT YOU WERE GIVEN 3000 FT.' I RESPONDED WITH PWR AND LOTS OF PITCH AND BLURTED XYZ CLBING 3000 FT. NOTHING REGARDING THE ALT EXCURSION CAME UP THEREAFTER. NO ONE HAD TO DIVERT, THERE WERE NO CONFLICTS. I WAS FORTUNATE. MORAL OF THE STORY: BE AHEAD OF THE ACFT, BUT ALSO BE IN THE COCKPIT AS WELL!

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.

Cargo flight of a C208 at cruise is contacted by ATC regarding altitude excursion. He climbs back to assigned.