IFR en route M7 departs assigned altitude in ZFW airspace.

Attributes
ACN	583592
Time
Date	200306
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4100 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc tower : pdk.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-7
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 12 controller time certified in position1 : 12 flight time total : 440
ASRS Report	583592
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
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:

Aircraft X an M7 from wiley post to paris, tx, was at 5000 ft MSL approximately 3 NM northeast byp when I advised him 'radar contact lost.' about 5 mins later I re-idented him. Very soon afterward I lost him again, and again instructed 'radar contact lost.' at about XA44 I see a target northwest of paris squawking XXXX (same as that assigned to aircraft X) with a mode C readout of 4300 ft. I asked the pilot to verify level 5000 ft. He responds 'we're leaving 4100 ft.' I asked him if had received a clearance for lower, and if he was still on an IFR flight plan. The answers were (paraphrased) no and yes, respectively. I then asked him to 'say intentions,' to which he indicated he would cancel IFR. Radio coverage is limited in this area, but probably not a factor, as communication was intact through 4000 ft. If the pilot was unable to talk to center to request lower/cancellation, there were other aircraft on frequency through which to relay. There was another aircraft approaching prx from the east, non radar, and aircraft may have been expecting lower, but did not receive this clearance due to this traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IFR ENRTE M7 DEPARTS ASSIGNED ALT IN ZFW AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ACFT X AN M7 FROM WILEY POST TO PARIS, TX, WAS AT 5000 FT MSL APPROX 3 NM NE BYP WHEN I ADVISED HIM 'RADAR CONTACT LOST.' ABOUT 5 MINS LATER I RE-IDENTED HIM. VERY SOON AFTERWARD I LOST HIM AGAIN, AND AGAIN INSTRUCTED 'RADAR CONTACT LOST.' AT ABOUT XA44 I SEE A TARGET NW OF PARIS SQUAWKING XXXX (SAME AS THAT ASSIGNED TO ACFT X) WITH A MODE C READOUT OF 4300 FT. I ASKED THE PLT TO VERIFY LEVEL 5000 FT. HE RESPONDS 'WE'RE LEAVING 4100 FT.' I ASKED HIM IF HAD RECEIVED A CLRNC FOR LOWER, AND IF HE WAS STILL ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. THE ANSWERS WERE (PARAPHRASED) NO AND YES, RESPECTIVELY. I THEN ASKED HIM TO 'SAY INTENTIONS,' TO WHICH HE INDICATED HE WOULD CANCEL IFR. RADIO COVERAGE IS LIMITED IN THIS AREA, BUT PROBABLY NOT A FACTOR, AS COM WAS INTACT THROUGH 4000 FT. IF THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO TALK TO CTR TO REQUEST LOWER/CANCELLATION, THERE WERE OTHER ACFT ON FREQ THROUGH WHICH TO RELAY. THERE WAS ANOTHER ACFT APCHING PRX FROM THE E, NON RADAR, AND ACFT MAY HAVE BEEN EXPECTING LOWER, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE THIS CLRNC DUE TO THIS TFC.

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.