Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 26; Flight Crew Total 1160; Flight Crew Type 1150
Confusion; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors
I have had my Instrument rating a long time; I usually remain current; but have very little actual IMC and time in the system. I do however; get regular training in order to 'retain' my skills. Today I hired a reputable and experienced CFII for recurrent training. Ceilings ranging 2;500 ft to 4;200 ft in most of the area. We picked ZZZ in order to find time in the clouds although the approach would be in VMC under simulated conditions. I filed a TEC (Tower En Route Control) route.The controller was busy and there was regular; light and choppy turbulence. I had joined the final and my descent was delayed briefly for traffic. When cleared for the ILS Rwy 9 approach I thought; mistakenly; that I was beyond the FAF and began a rapid; but stabilized descent. I went right through my 2;500 ft altitude to the FAF and kept descending until my instructor brought my mistake to my attention. The tower then reported the altitude alert.This was a humbling experience. I have never blown an approach so badly; but it did make an impressive learning experience. This would have been a CFIT had I been alone and in IMC. My three situational awareness questions; where am I; what am I doing and what is next had not been answered. I know how to read the CDI; I can't explain why I thought I was too high. If I had only maintained my altitude until I confirmed my location the worst I would have been was too high on the approach and a go-around or missed. We will be scheduling more practice.Since we had filed an IFR TEC this was a violation. Although my instructor turned it into a dramatic learning experience; I wish he had not allowed me to descend that low; 1700 ft.
Instructor reported their training flight overshot published altitude during an ILS approach.