A PVT PLT FLEW A HOODED PRACTICE INST APCH USING A CERTIFICATED PVT PLT AS A SAFETY PLT. THIS WAS A FIRST TIME EXPERIENCE FOR THE PLT; AND COMS CONFUSION RESULTED IN AN ALTDEV.

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I WAS FLYING A CESSNA 152 FROM LGB TO CMA UNDER THE HOOD AT AN ALT OF 4500 FT. ACCOMPANYING ME WAS A SAFETY PLT WHO ALSO HAS A PVT PLT'S LICENSE. I WAS ON V-326 WBOUND. WHEN I GOT AROUND GINNA; I CALLED MUGU APCH AND TOLD THEM I WANTED TO PRACTICE THE VOR RWY 26 APCH INTO CMA. HE CLRED ME AND SAID TO MAINTAIN VFR. HE TOLD ME TO RPT AT 'CECEE;' WHICH IS A FIX. I STARTED DSNDING FAST AND THINGS STARTED HAPPENING VERY QUICKLY. SINCE THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME EVER SHOOTING AN APCH; I GOT BEHIND THE ACFT. MUGU GAVE RADAR VECTORS TO GET ME BACK ON COURSE AND I WAS WAITING FOR THE VOR NEEDLE TO CTR. WHEN I GOT TO THE FIX; I CALLED MUGU; AND THEY SAID FOR ME TO CONTACT CMA TWR. I CONTACTED THE CMA TWR AND I TOLD THEM; 'I'M WITH YOU.' I WAS SO PREOCCUPIED WITH FLYING THE AIRPLANE THAT I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE ENTIRE ATC CLRNC AND THE SAFETY PLT HAD TO RESPOND TO ATC. THE SAFETY PLT TOOK OFF MY HOOD AND I IMMEDIATELY STARTED LOOKING OUTSIDE FOR TFC AND FOR THE RWY; STILL UNCERTAIN OF THE ATC CLRNC. THE SAFETY PLT CALLED MY ATTN AND SAID THAT IF I WANTED TO LAND; THAT I MUST CONTACT THE TWR. THE RADIO WAS VERY CONGESTED. I WAS WAITING FOR THE RADIO TO OPEN UP; SO I COULD TELL THE TWR MY INTENTIONS TO LAND. BY THE TIME I GOT IN CONTACT WITH THE CMA TWR; I WENT BELOW MY ASSIGNED ALT BY 400-500 FT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I UNDERSTOOD THAT I WAS TO KEEP AN ALT OF 1200 FT. FROM THE POINT THAT I CONTACTED MUGU FOR THE FIRST TIME; I UNDERSTOOD THAT I WAS CLRED FOR THE APCH AND LNDG. MY MISTAKE WAS NOT MAKING IT CLR TO MUGU MY WHOLE INTENTIONS; WHICH WERE TO LAND; AND NOT CLRLY UNDERSTANDING CMA TWR INSTRUCTIONS; WHICH WERE TO FLY A MISSED APCH. I SHOULD NOT FLY OUTSIDE MY BOUNDARIES; AND I WILL FLY WITHIN MY LIMITATIONS. FROM NOW ON; MY INST TRAINING WILL BE WITH A CFII.