Small aircraft pilot had an altitude deviation and track deviation.

Attributes
ACN	506630
Time
Date	200103
Day	Thu
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msp.airport
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 4630 flight time type : 1850
ASRS Report	506630
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I received approach instructions for a descent in IMC. While descending on the vectored heading I was reviewing the approach procedure to the alternate airport. A loud noise suddenly occurred when the oil filler door broke open and caused distraction. After the source of the noise was determined I accidentally deviated from clearance instructions by flying directly to gep VOR before reaching the assigned altitude for the turn. Approach brought the deviation to my attention and issued new instructions. The rest of the approach was uneventful until I was flying at MDA looking for the runway. I inadvertently dropped below MDA and an altitude alert was issued by the tower. Shortly after that the runway came in sight and I landed. I believe fatigue played a major role in this event. I worked late the night before and then got up early to finish some tasks before I could leave. I was flying for about 6 hours before starting the approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT HAD AN ALTDEV AND TRACK DEV.

Narrative: I RECEIVED APCH INSTRUCTIONS FOR A DSCNT IN IMC. WHILE DSNDING ON THE VECTORED HEADING I WAS REVIEWING THE APCH PROC TO THE ALTERNATE ARPT. A LOUD NOISE SUDDENLY OCCURRED WHEN THE OIL FILLER DOOR BROKE OPEN AND CAUSED DISTR. AFTER THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE WAS DETERMINED I ACCIDENTALLY DEVIATED FROM CLRNC INSTRUCTIONS BY FLYING DIRECTLY TO GEP VOR BEFORE REACHING THE ASSIGNED ALT FOR THE TURN. APCH BROUGHT THE DEV TO MY ATTN AND ISSUED NEW INSTRUCTIONS. THE REST OF THE APCH WAS UNEVENTFUL UNTIL I WAS FLYING AT MDA LOOKING FOR THE RWY. I INADVERTENTLY DROPPED BELOW MDA AND AN ALT ALERT WAS ISSUED BY THE TWR. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE RWY CAME IN SIGHT AND I LANDED. I BELIEVE FATIGUE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THIS EVENT. I WORKED LATE THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THEN GOT UP EARLY TO FINISH SOME TASKS BEFORE I COULD LEAVE. I WAS FLYING FOR ABOUT 6 HRS BEFORE STARTING THE APCH.

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.