T38 pilot overshot cleared altitude during descent in ZHU airspace.

Attributes
ACN	414400
Time
Date	199809
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : efd
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15200 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Talon
Operating Under FAR Part	other : other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 5200 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	414400
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
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:

Upon initiating recovery to efd from practice area W147C, I was cleared to descend to 16000 ft and direct efd. I inadvertently descended below 16000 ft, to about 15200 ft, before recognizing my mistake and climbing back up.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: T38 PLT OVERSHOT CLRED ALT DURING DSCNT IN ZHU AIRSPACE.

Narrative: UPON INITIATING RECOVERY TO EFD FROM PRACTICE AREA W147C, I WAS CLRED TO DSND TO 16000 FT AND DIRECT EFD. I INADVERTENTLY DSNDED BELOW 16000 FT, TO ABOUT 15200 FT, BEFORE RECOGNIZING MY MISTAKE AND CLBING BACK UP.

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.