Single pilot IFR operation overshoots altitude by 200 ft.

Attributes
ACN	470070
Time
Date	200004
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4800 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : clt.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bonanza 36
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 16l other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : motza.5
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 800
ASRS Report	470070
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	controller : issued advisory 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:

I was on the motza 5 arrival for dallas on the 015 degree radial from bowie VOR. A bonanza A36 with autoplt, GPS, and HSI. I was given a clearance to descend from 8000 ft MSL to 5000 ft MSL and to expect the ILS runway 16L into fort worth meacham airport. I began to set up the airplane for the approach and brief myself on the plates. I was currently flying single pilot in IMC. The WX in dallas was 500 ft overcast, 2 mi visibility. The autoplt was doing the descent, although I was struggling with it to remain descending at 500 FPM for my 2 passenger in back. I became distraction and descended to 4800 ft before noticing my deviation. As I leveled off, approach instructed me to maintain 5000 ft and proceed direct to bowie. I don't know if I had violated altitude of not, so I'm filing this report anyway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SINGLE PLT IFR OP OVERSHOOTS ALT BY 200 FT.

Narrative: I WAS ON THE MOTZA 5 ARR FOR DALLAS ON THE 015 DEG RADIAL FROM BOWIE VOR. A BONANZA A36 WITH AUTOPLT, GPS, AND HSI. I WAS GIVEN A CLRNC TO DSND FROM 8000 FT MSL TO 5000 FT MSL AND TO EXPECT THE ILS RWY 16L INTO FORT WORTH MEACHAM ARPT. I BEGAN TO SET UP THE AIRPLANE FOR THE APCH AND BRIEF MYSELF ON THE PLATES. I WAS CURRENTLY FLYING SINGLE PLT IN IMC. THE WX IN DALLAS WAS 500 FT OVCST, 2 MI VISIBILITY. THE AUTOPLT WAS DOING THE DSCNT, ALTHOUGH I WAS STRUGGLING WITH IT TO REMAIN DSNDING AT 500 FPM FOR MY 2 PAX IN BACK. I BECAME DISTR AND DSNDED TO 4800 FT BEFORE NOTICING MY DEV. AS I LEVELED OFF, APCH INSTRUCTED ME TO MAINTAIN 5000 FT AND PROCEED DIRECT TO BOWIE. I DON'T KNOW IF I HAD VIOLATED ALT OF NOT, SO I'M FILING THIS RPT ANYWAY.

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.