An instrument rated private pilot flying a PA42 near pxt failed to maintain altitude as assigned by ...

Attributes
ACN	487230
Time
Date	200009
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : louie
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bos.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-42 Cheyenne IIA
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	487230
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist 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:

Some confusion -- recall not exact -- not sure if cleared to 7000 ft or 5000 ft. Did not set altitude arm function of autoplt. Suddenly realized I might have descended through my altitude when at about just below 5000 ft. Began immediate climb back to 7000 ft. Controller called and said maintain 5000 ft, which I did. I said I was sorry I had violated my altitude. Nothing more was said. This has never happened to me before and was most upsetting. I have been flying since the 60's and fly my PA42 proximity 150 hours a yr. Probably cause was pilot error for not arming altitude preselect and possibly not dialing in new assigned altitude when given.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN INST RATED PVT PLT FLYING A PA42 NEAR PXT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ALT AS ASSIGNED BY ATC.

Narrative: SOME CONFUSION -- RECALL NOT EXACT -- NOT SURE IF CLRED TO 7000 FT OR 5000 FT. DID NOT SET ALT ARM FUNCTION OF AUTOPLT. SUDDENLY REALIZED I MIGHT HAVE DSNDED THROUGH MY ALT WHEN AT ABOUT JUST BELOW 5000 FT. BEGAN IMMEDIATE CLB BACK TO 7000 FT. CTLR CALLED AND SAID MAINTAIN 5000 FT, WHICH I DID. I SAID I WAS SORRY I HAD VIOLATED MY ALT. NOTHING MORE WAS SAID. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE AND WAS MOST UPSETTING. I HAVE BEEN FLYING SINCE THE 60'S AND FLY MY PA42 PROX 150 HRS A YR. PROBABLY CAUSE WAS PLT ERROR FOR NOT ARMING ALT PRESELECT AND POSSIBLY NOT DIALING IN NEW ASSIGNED ALT WHEN GIVEN.

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.

An instrument rated private pilot flying a PA42 near pxt failed to maintain altitude as assigned by ATC.