PLT OF AN SMA OVERSHOT CLB ALT AFTER TKOF.

Narrative

IT WAS XA00; AFTER DINNER WITH A FRIEND. I HAD WORKED ALL DAY AND DECIDED TO TAKE THE TURBO TRINIDAD (FIRST FLT AFTER CHKOUT AND NO NIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THAT SPECIFIC AIRPLANE) FOR A LITTLE JOURNEY TO MARIPOSA; PICK UP A FRIEND AND GO TO FRESNO FOR DINNER. DURING PREFLT; THE SUN HAD SET ALREADY; I NOTICED THAT 1/2 THE PANEL LIGHTS WERE OUT AND THOUGHT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO USE THE FLASHLIGHT A 'LOT.' A SHORT ALSO APPEARED TO BE IN THE PANEL LIGHT SWITCH ITSELF. FRESNO GAVE ME A SQUAWK AND 'VFR TO 2000 FT.' I DIDN'T PAY TOO MUCH ATTN BECAUSE I THOUGHT 'IT'S VFR; AND I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.' BESIDES; I WAS PREOCCUPIED WITH THE LIGHT SIT IN THE PLANE; THE UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE PLANE; THE ARPT AND HOW EXACTLY I WOULD FIND MARIPOSA ARPT AT NIGHT. (HAD NEVER FLOWN IT AT NIGHT.) AFTER TKOF I WAS VERY BUSY. ALT AND AIRSPD WERE OK. I KEPT CLBING THROUGH 2000 FT AND FRESNO APCH CAME BACK AND SAID THAT I WAS RESTR TO 2000 FT BUT WAS CLRED NOW TO ANY CRUISE. I APOLOGIZED AND SAID I MISUNDERSTOOD THE CLRNC. LATER ON; THE CIRCUIT BREAKER ACTUALLY POPPED AND OUR LIGHTS WENT OUT. I BELIEVE THE LIGHT SIT AND BEING RUSHED AT NIGHT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS INCIDENT. (I WAS PREOCCUPIED AND DID NOT VERIFY THE CLRNC.)