A GA CFI pilot at 4500 ft flies at the wrong VFR altitude from ttn to rdg, PA.

Attributes
ACN	504650
Time
Date	200103
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdg.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : rdg.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival : vfr enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 1010 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	504650
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : turbulence non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Passenger Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a direct flight from ttn to rdg, PIC selected 3500 ft as cruising altitude, which is greater than 3000 ft AGL. Flight should have been at 4500 ft MSL, or below less than +/-3200 ft MSL. No problem or conflict occurred, but on descent into rdg the PIC realized the error. The PIC knows better and is familiar with the rule, but committed the error of insufficient thought. Possible factors in not 'worrying' about the altitude: 1) the WX was so clear that no ceiling had to be planned around. 2) moderate turbulence existed, so very little traffic was flying. 3) PIC was distraction by conversation with passenger. Solution: pay more attention and think plan all the way through!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A GA CFI PLT AT 4500 FT FLIES AT THE WRONG VFR ALT FROM TTN TO RDG, PA.

Narrative: ON A DIRECT FLT FROM TTN TO RDG, PIC SELECTED 3500 FT AS CRUISING ALT, WHICH IS GREATER THAN 3000 FT AGL. FLT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT 4500 FT MSL, OR BELOW LESS THAN +/-3200 FT MSL. NO PROB OR CONFLICT OCCURRED, BUT ON DSCNT INTO RDG THE PIC REALIZED THE ERROR. THE PIC KNOWS BETTER AND IS FAMILIAR WITH THE RULE, BUT COMMITTED THE ERROR OF INSUFFICIENT THOUGHT. POSSIBLE FACTORS IN NOT 'WORRYING' ABOUT THE ALT: 1) THE WX WAS SO CLR THAT NO CEILING HAD TO BE PLANNED AROUND. 2) MODERATE TURB EXISTED, SO VERY LITTLE TFC WAS FLYING. 3) PIC WAS DISTR BY CONVERSATION WITH PAX. SOLUTION: PAY MORE ATTN AND THINK PLAN ALL THE WAY THROUGH!

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.