C182 pilot had an altitude deviation in oma class C airspace.

Attributes
ACN	519250
Time
Date	200108
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oma.airport
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl single value : 2800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 1060 flight time type : 890
ASRS Report	519250
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During an approach to landing at oma, I was in contact with approach control being vectored for a visual approach to runway 32L. My last clearance was heading of 030 degrees, 3000 ft. While looking for the airport, I inadvertently descended to about 2800 ft. My lack of concentration while flying, because of my preoccupation with locating the airport caused me to descend below my cleared altitude. The factors that caused me to lose flying concentration were the hazy atmosphere and both offutt (off) and milland (mle) airports I was passing by. I should have maintained better control of my airplane and not been distraction. Aviate then communication.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C182 PLT HAD AN ALTDEV IN OMA CLASS C AIRSPACE.

Narrative: DURING AN APCH TO LNDG AT OMA, I WAS IN CONTACT WITH APCH CTL BEING VECTORED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 32L. MY LAST CLRNC WAS HDG OF 030 DEGS, 3000 FT. WHILE LOOKING FOR THE ARPT, I INADVERTENTLY DSNDED TO ABOUT 2800 FT. MY LACK OF CONCENTRATION WHILE FLYING, BECAUSE OF MY PREOCCUPATION WITH LOCATING THE ARPT CAUSED ME TO DSND BELOW MY CLRED ALT. THE FACTORS THAT CAUSED ME TO LOSE FLYING CONCENTRATION WERE THE HAZY ATMOSPHERE AND BOTH OFFUTT (OFF) AND MILLAND (MLE) ARPTS I WAS PASSING BY. I SHOULD HAVE MAINTAINED BETTER CTL OF MY AIRPLANE AND NOT BEEN DISTR. AVIATE THEN COM.

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.