BE9T pilot had altitude undershoot in P-50 class D.

Attributes
ACN	488968
Time
Date	200010
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sdl.airport
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Beech F90
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : ns
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 9800 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	488968
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Clearance read 'climb to 5000 ft, expect 20000 ft in 3 mins.' for some unknown reason I dialed in 2000 ft for my initial climb. On departure I leveled between 2000 ft and 2200 ft and asked for higher. Approach asked what altitude I was cleared to then said 'climb to 5000 ft.' I started my climb and ATC asked me if I was 'experiencing any difficulty.' I said 'no' and the rest of the flight was uneventful. An initial climb to 2000 ft MSL put me 500 ft AGL. At a high speed this was a dangerous flight situation. What puzzled me was that I was held for 8-10 mins for my release. During this time I obviously made poor use of my time to double-check my cockpit setup. I had flown 3 hours to sdl from sql and prior to that I flew from 2q3 to the hwd localizer course to get underneath a bay area aircraft. I broke off the localizer and got a special VFR into sql. All this single pilot (early morning) flying, coupled with an eye infection, which was nagging on me should have made me extra careful in IFR setup and flight. Wasting those 8-10 mins while 'holding short' in lieu of double-checking my setup will not happen again. Too, I could have relaxed and had lunch prior to launching off on my return trip might have served to 'slow me down.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE9T PLT HAD ALT UNDERSHOOT IN P-50 CLASS D.

Narrative: CLRNC READ 'CLB TO 5000 FT, EXPECT 20000 FT IN 3 MINS.' FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON I DIALED IN 2000 FT FOR MY INITIAL CLB. ON DEP I LEVELED BTWN 2000 FT AND 2200 FT AND ASKED FOR HIGHER. APCH ASKED WHAT ALT I WAS CLRED TO THEN SAID 'CLB TO 5000 FT.' I STARTED MY CLB AND ATC ASKED ME IF I WAS 'EXPERIENCING ANY DIFFICULTY.' I SAID 'NO' AND THE REST OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. AN INITIAL CLB TO 2000 FT MSL PUT ME 500 FT AGL. AT A HIGH SPD THIS WAS A DANGEROUS FLT SIT. WHAT PUZZLED ME WAS THAT I WAS HELD FOR 8-10 MINS FOR MY RELEASE. DURING THIS TIME I OBVIOUSLY MADE POOR USE OF MY TIME TO DOUBLE-CHK MY COCKPIT SETUP. I HAD FLOWN 3 HRS TO SDL FROM SQL AND PRIOR TO THAT I FLEW FROM 2Q3 TO THE HWD LOC COURSE TO GET UNDERNEATH A BAY AREA ACFT. I BROKE OFF THE LOC AND GOT A SPECIAL VFR INTO SQL. ALL THIS SINGLE PLT (EARLY MORNING) FLYING, COUPLED WITH AN EYE INFECTION, WHICH WAS NAGGING ON ME SHOULD HAVE MADE ME EXTRA CAREFUL IN IFR SETUP AND FLT. WASTING THOSE 8-10 MINS WHILE 'HOLDING SHORT' IN LIEU OF DOUBLE-CHKING MY SETUP WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. TOO, I COULD HAVE RELAXED AND HAD LUNCH PRIOR TO LAUNCHING OFF ON MY RETURN TRIP MIGHT HAVE SERVED TO 'SLOW ME DOWN.'

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.