BA31 crew, concerned about controller's comment, levels off above cleared altitude in descent in bfl...

Attributes
ACN	422956
Time
Date	199812
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lhs
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Jetstream 31
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4400 flight time type : 2300
ASRS Report	422956
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ATC advised that we were 2 mi off the airway and to turn left 20 degrees to reintercept. We proceeded to doublechk our position while executing the left turn. Our instruments showed us to be 1 1/2 mi off airway centerline. During this time as we were recalculating our exact position relative to the airway centerline, I inadvertently leveled the aircraft at 12000 ft. We were at this altitude for no more than 2 mins when ATC advised us of our clearance to 8000 ft. We were much too concerned about being off the airway when we were actually only off the centerline and did not fly the aircraft. I believe a perceived notion that ATC/FAA is trigger happy to violate a pilot led to our distraction. In talking with many commuter pilots, it is common that the cockpit stress level hits the roof whenever ATC questions altitude, heading etc. The initial concern is over a possible violation and its effect on a pilot's career rather than the situation at hand. Flying the aircraft should always come first, and it is unfortunate that the fear of violation has become so overwhelming that it interferes with this.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BA31 CREW, CONCERNED ABOUT CTLR'S COMMENT, LEVELS OFF ABOVE CLRED ALT IN DSCNT IN BFL AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ATC ADVISED THAT WE WERE 2 MI OFF THE AIRWAY AND TO TURN L 20 DEGS TO REINTERCEPT. WE PROCEEDED TO DOUBLECHK OUR POS WHILE EXECUTING THE L TURN. OUR INSTS SHOWED US TO BE 1 1/2 MI OFF AIRWAY CTRLINE. DURING THIS TIME AS WE WERE RECALCULATING OUR EXACT POS RELATIVE TO THE AIRWAY CTRLINE, I INADVERTENTLY LEVELED THE ACFT AT 12000 FT. WE WERE AT THIS ALT FOR NO MORE THAN 2 MINS WHEN ATC ADVISED US OF OUR CLRNC TO 8000 FT. WE WERE MUCH TOO CONCERNED ABOUT BEING OFF THE AIRWAY WHEN WE WERE ACTUALLY ONLY OFF THE CTRLINE AND DID NOT FLY THE ACFT. I BELIEVE A PERCEIVED NOTION THAT ATC/FAA IS TRIGGER HAPPY TO VIOLATE A PLT LED TO OUR DISTR. IN TALKING WITH MANY COMMUTER PLTS, IT IS COMMON THAT THE COCKPIT STRESS LEVEL HITS THE ROOF WHENEVER ATC QUESTIONS ALT, HDG ETC. THE INITIAL CONCERN IS OVER A POSSIBLE VIOLATION AND ITS EFFECT ON A PLT'S CAREER RATHER THAN THE SIT AT HAND. FLYING THE ACFT SHOULD ALWAYS COME FIRST, AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE FEAR OF VIOLATION HAS BECOME SO OVERWHELMING THAT IT INTERFERES WITH THIS.

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.

BA31 crew, concerned about controller's comment, levels off above cleared altitude in descent in bfl airspace.