A PA31 pilot loses 400 ft while pursuing his GPS for his position relative to a fix ahead near det, ...

Attributes
ACN	472340
Time
Date	200005
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : det.airport
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2600 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : det.tower
Operator	other
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	472340
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was cleared for an ILS runway 33 at detroit city, mi. I was told to maintain 3000 ft to an intersection. I tried to tune the intersection on a GPS. I was distraction by trying to identify the intersection and lost approximately 400 ft and did not maintain 3000 ft. I did not practice 'fly the airplane first.' I am very aware of the problems that I may have caused by my lack of awareness. This was an airport that was new to me. I thought that I was prepared for the approach. I will review each approach in detail in future flts to prevent this from occurring again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA31 PLT LOSES 400 FT WHILE PURSUING HIS GPS FOR HIS POS RELATIVE TO A FIX AHEAD NEAR DET, MI.

Narrative: I WAS CLRED FOR AN ILS RWY 33 AT DETROIT CITY, MI. I WAS TOLD TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT TO AN INTXN. I TRIED TO TUNE THE INTXN ON A GPS. I WAS DISTR BY TRYING TO IDENT THE INTXN AND LOST APPROX 400 FT AND DID NOT MAINTAIN 3000 FT. I DID NOT PRACTICE 'FLY THE AIRPLANE FIRST.' I AM VERY AWARE OF THE PROBS THAT I MAY HAVE CAUSED BY MY LACK OF AWARENESS. THIS WAS AN ARPT THAT WAS NEW TO ME. I THOUGHT THAT I WAS PREPARED FOR THE APCH. I WILL REVIEW EACH APCH IN DETAIL IN FUTURE FLTS TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING AGAIN.

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.

A PA31 pilot loses 400 ft while pursuing his GPS for his position relative to a fix ahead near det, mi.