BE9T PLT HAD ALT UNDERSHOOT IN P-50 CLASS D.

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CLRNC READ 'CLB TO 5000 FT; EXPECT 20000 FT IN 3 MINS.' FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON I DIALED IN 2000 FT FOR MY INITIAL CLB. ON DEP I LEVELED BTWN 2000 FT AND 2200 FT AND ASKED FOR HIGHER. APCH ASKED WHAT ALT I WAS CLRED TO THEN SAID 'CLB TO 5000 FT.' I STARTED MY CLB AND ATC ASKED ME IF I WAS 'EXPERIENCING ANY DIFFICULTY.' I SAID 'NO' AND THE REST OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. AN INITIAL CLB TO 2000 FT MSL PUT ME 500 FT AGL. AT A HIGH SPD THIS WAS A DANGEROUS FLT SIT. WHAT PUZZLED ME WAS THAT I WAS HELD FOR 8-10 MINS FOR MY RELEASE. DURING THIS TIME I OBVIOUSLY MADE POOR USE OF MY TIME TO DOUBLE-CHK MY COCKPIT SETUP. I HAD FLOWN 3 HRS TO SDL FROM SQL AND PRIOR TO THAT I FLEW FROM 2Q3 TO THE HWD LOC COURSE TO GET UNDERNEATH A BAY AREA ACFT. I BROKE OFF THE LOC AND GOT A SPECIAL VFR INTO SQL. ALL THIS SINGLE PLT (EARLY MORNING) FLYING; COUPLED WITH AN EYE INFECTION; WHICH WAS NAGGING ON ME SHOULD HAVE MADE ME EXTRA CAREFUL IN IFR SETUP AND FLT. WASTING THOSE 8-10 MINS WHILE 'HOLDING SHORT' IN LIEU OF DOUBLE-CHKING MY SETUP WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. TOO; I COULD HAVE RELAXED AND HAD LUNCH PRIOR TO LAUNCHING OFF ON MY RETURN TRIP MIGHT HAVE SERVED TO 'SLOW ME DOWN.'