DISTR BY PAX CONVERSATIONS; PA27 PLT CLBS THROUGH CLRED ALT ON DEP FROM OMN.

Narrative

I WAS CLRED BY THE OMN TWR TO 'DEPART RWY 17; MAKE A CLBING R TURN TO 290 DEGS; AND CLB AND MAINTAIN 2000 FT.' I ACKNOWLEDGED AND AFTER CLBING THROUGH 500 FT; I TURNED TO 290 DEGS. I WAS THEN ADVISED TO CONTACT DAB DEP. I SWITCHED TO THEIR FREQ AND CHKED IN; ADVISING THAT I WAS 'CLBING THROUGH 1200 FT FOR 2000 FT; 290 ASSIGNED.' THE CTLR ADVISED 'RADAR CONTACT' AND TO 'TURN ON-COURSE.' I STARTED A R TURN TO MY DESIRED HDG OF 345 DEGS AND CONTINUED TO CLB. SHORTLY THEREAFTER; I SAW A C172/C182 ABOVE ME AT MY 1 O'CLOCK POS THAT WAS HEADING W ACROSS MY PATH. THEN; THE DAB CTLR CAME ON THE FREQ AND ASKED FOR MY ALT. I GLANCED DOWN AND SAW THAT I WAS CLBING THROUGH 2500 FT. I IMMEDIATELY PUSHED THE NOSE DOWN WHILE ADVISING '2500 FT AND CORRECTING.' THE CTLR CALLED OUT THE TFC AND I CONFIRMED THAT I HAD IT IN SIGHT. HE ALSO GAVE ME A TELEPHONE NUMBER TO CALL ONCE I LANDED AT MY DEST. I CONTINUED TO SPRINGFIELD; OH; FEELING LIKE A CRIMINAL. I KNEW THAT I HAD BUSTED MY ALT BECAUSE I HAD ALLOWED MYSELF TO BECOME DISTR BY THE 2 PAX ON BOARD. I KNOW BETTER AND GENERALLY TRY TO AVOID QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS OF ANY KIND DURING THE DEP AND ARR PHASES. HOWEVER; ON THIS DAY; THE WX CONDITIONS WERE GOOD VFR AND I WAS NOT AS FOCUSED TO AVOID DISTR AS I AM WHEN DEPARTING UNDER MVFR OR IFR CONDITIONS. TO AVOID THIS IN THE FUTURE; I AM GOING TO ADVISE MY PAX PRIOR TO TKOF THAT I AM GOING TO BE VERY BUSY FOR THE NEXT 5-10 MINS AND TO PLEASE NOT INTERRUPT MY CONCENTRATION. BY DISCUSSING THIS IN ADVANCE; I HOPE THAT THEY WILL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT MY NEED TO REMAIN FOCUSED. UPON ARR AT SPRINGFIELD; I CALLED BACK AND TALKED TO THE WATCH COMMANDED AT DAB. AFTER ADMITTING THAT I WAS THE KNUCKLEHEAD WHO HAD VIOLATED THEIR AIRSPACE; I APOLOGIZED. WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION AND HE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING AN ASSIGNED ALT. HE WAS GLAD TO HEAR THAT I UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE AND THAT I WAS GENUINELY SORRY. HE SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO WRITE UP A VIOLATION SINCE PROPER SEPARATION HAD BEEN MAINTAINED.