PA31 DEPARTING PIA CLBS ABOVE ATC ASSIGNED ALT.

Date: 2003-06 · Aircraft: PA-31P Navajo P · Phase: climb

Anomalies: deviation-altitude-excursion-from-assigned-altitude|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-clearance|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far

Synopsis

PA31 DEPARTING PIA CLBS ABOVE ATC ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative

ON JUN/MON/03; I HAD DEPARTED PEORIA REGIONAL ARPT; (PIA) AT APPROX XA40 LCL TIME. DEPARTING RWY WAS RWY 13; WX CONDITIONS WERE AROUND 500 FT OVCST WITH 4 MI VISIBILITY. THE INST CLRNC THAT I HAD ACCEPTED WAS 'CLRED DIRECT DAVENPORT; IA (DVN); CLB AND MAINTAIN 3000 FT; EXPECT 4000 FT; 10 MINS AFTER DEP; DEP FREQ WILL BE 125.8.' SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING RWY 13 THE TWR HAD INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT DEP; MAINTAIN RWY HEADING; 3000 FT; AND TO PASS BACK A BASE AND TOP RPT THROUGH DEP CTL. AT THIS TIME I MADE RADIO CONTACT WITH PEORIA DEP. THEY ADVISED ME THAT I WAS IN RADAR CONTACT; AND INSTRUCTED ME TO MAKE A L TURN TO A 330 DEG HDG; DIRECT DVN WHEN ABLE; AND TO CLB TO 4000 FT. I CONSEQUENTLY CONTINUED MY CLB AND BEGAN A L TURN TO 330 DEGS AND BEGAN TO CTR THE OBS FOR THE DAVENPORT VOR. AT THIS TIME I WAS APCHING THE ASSIGNED ALT OF 4000 FT AND CONTINUED TO CLB. AT THIS POINT PEORIA APCH CTL HAS ASKED ME TO SAY CURRENT ALT; I ADVISED HIM THAT I WAS AT 4700 FT. AT THIS TIME I REALIZED THAT I WAS 700 FT ABOVE MY ASSIGNED ALT AND BEGAN A DSCNT TO 4000 FT. UPON REACHING 4000 FT I ADVISED THE CTLR THAT I WAS THEN LEVEL AT 4000 FT. I THEN CONTINUED THE FLT AS PLANNED TO DVN AND THE FLT TERMINATED IN A NORMAL MANNER. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE ABOVE LISTED CHAIN OF EVENTS; HUMAN FACTORS ARE ONLY TO BLAME FOR THIS SIT. FIRST OFF; I HADN'T SLEPT WELL THE DAY BEFORE I BEGAN MY DUTY PERIOD OF ALMOST 14 HRS; AND THIS WAS MY LAST LEG. SECONDLY; AFTER BEING INSTRUCTED TO PASS BACK A BASE AND TOP RPT TO THE CTLR; I HAD REALLY EXPECTED TO BE ON TOP AT 4000 FT. SO; SINCE THE CLOUD TOPS WERE ABOVE 4000 FT; I NEVER BROKE OUT AS EXPECTED; THUS NOT GIVING ME THE HINT THAT I WAS EXPECTING TO TELL ME THAT I WAS APCHING MY ASSIGNED ALT. LASTLY; I HADN'T SET UP MY NAV RADIOS TO NAV TO MY DEST BECAUSE THE DEPARTING FIELD WAS IFR AT THE TIME OF DEP AND I HAD THE ILS TO RWY 13 SET UP IN CASE OF A NEED TO RETURN TO THE FIELD. CONSEQUENTLY MY ATTN WAS DIVIDED BTWN MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE FLT. THIS SIT HAS ESSENTIALLY WAKEN ME UP TO SOME FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO SAFETY IN MY CURRENT JOB. I HAVE BEEN FLYING THIS SCHEDULED RUN FOR 3 MONTHS NOW AND A SENSE OF COMPLACENCY HAS EVOLVED IN THE MANNER IN WHICH I OPERATE THE ACFT. I BELIEVE THAT I NEED TO PAY CLOSER ATTN TO THE FINER DETAILS AND OPERATE THE ACFT AS IF I WAS ON THE RUN FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.