BE58 pilot had altitude overshoot.

Attributes
ACN	459810
Time
Date	200001
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : shv.airport
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : shv.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Baron 58/58TC
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 1507 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	459810
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Was assigned altitude of 4000 ft MSL. VMC on IFR flight plan. Accustomed to flying VFR altitudes (VFR flight plan) whenever possible. Continued climb to 4500 ft MSL and leveled off for cruise. Subsequently ATC controller queried as to my altitude and I replied 'level 4500 ft.' controller then restated assigned altitude of 4000 ft MSL. Subsequently, no other mention of deviation was mentioned or discussed. I descended to my assigned altitude and continued my flight without further incident. Had started duty day at XA00 that morning and was somewhat tired. To prevent recurrence, I should write down assignments instead of relying on rote memory.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE58 PLT HAD ALT OVERSHOOT.

Narrative: WAS ASSIGNED ALT OF 4000 FT MSL. VMC ON IFR FLT PLAN. ACCUSTOMED TO FLYING VFR ALTS (VFR FLT PLAN) WHENEVER POSSIBLE. CONTINUED CLB TO 4500 FT MSL AND LEVELED OFF FOR CRUISE. SUBSEQUENTLY ATC CTLR QUERIED AS TO MY ALT AND I REPLIED 'LEVEL 4500 FT.' CTLR THEN RESTATED ASSIGNED ALT OF 4000 FT MSL. SUBSEQUENTLY, NO OTHER MENTION OF DEV WAS MENTIONED OR DISCUSSED. I DSNDED TO MY ASSIGNED ALT AND CONTINUED MY FLT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. HAD STARTED DUTY DAY AT XA00 THAT MORNING AND WAS SOMEWHAT TIRED. TO PREVENT RECURRENCE, I SHOULD WRITE DOWN ASSIGNMENTS INSTEAD OF RELYING ON ROTE MEMORY.

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.