Pilot of M20P descended through cleared altitude while operating IFR in VFR conditions.

Attributes
ACN	580232
Time
Date	200304
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : lal.vortac
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : v157 v615.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was operating single-pilot IFR in VFR conditions northbound on V157 approximately 20 NM north of lakeland VOR. I was cleared to descend from 10000-8000 ft. During the descent, I was off ATC frequency with permission from tampa approach. While speaking with st petersburg flight service, I inadvertently descended through 8000 ft down to 7000 ft. Failure to place strict attention on aviating and the distraction of communicating with flight service during a descent were contributing factors in this incident. This has not previously occurred in 10 yrs/2500 hours, and I will place great importance on attention to proper altitude maintenance in the future to prevent such an occurrence.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF M20P DSNDED THROUGH CLRED ALT WHILE OPERATING IFR IN VFR CONDITIONS.

Narrative: I WAS OPERATING SINGLE-PLT IFR IN VFR CONDITIONS NBOUND ON V157 APPROX 20 NM N OF LAKELAND VOR. I WAS CLRED TO DSND FROM 10000-8000 FT. DURING THE DSCNT, I WAS OFF ATC FREQ WITH PERMISSION FROM TAMPA APCH. WHILE SPEAKING WITH ST PETERSBURG FLT SVC, I INADVERTENTLY DSNDED THROUGH 8000 FT DOWN TO 7000 FT. FAILURE TO PLACE STRICT ATTN ON AVIATING AND THE DISTR OF COMMUNICATING WITH FLT SVC DURING A DSCNT WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THIS INCIDENT. THIS HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED IN 10 YRS/2500 HRS, AND I WILL PLACE GREAT IMPORTANCE ON ATTN TO PROPER ALT MAINT IN THE FUTURE TO PREVENT SUCH AN OCCURRENCE.

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.