Chancellor 414A / C414
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 10300; Flight Crew Type 250
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification; Communication Breakdown; Distraction
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Procedure
I fly for the person who owns the aircraft and although he doesn't even have a student license; he wants to sit in the left seat. I don't have a problem with that; because I am licensed multi-engine and instrument flight instructor. I have flown a number of hours; (more than 100) with this gentleman; and he was really getting to know the airplane and IFR system. I became complacent in that I split the radios so that I could listen to the ATIS and he could listen to ATC. While I listening to the ATIS; he started to leave our assign altitude; and I assisted him because we needed to descend quickly. I asked what our new assigned altitude was and he said he didn't know. I then ask ATC what our altitude was; and he replied that we should be at 11000. I stopped the descent and tried to get back to 11000; we already were @ 9300 when ATC assigned 10000. Our only saving grace was that there was very little traffic and it was in VFR conditions. ATC didn't ask any questions so I don't know if this was reported or not. I do know that I will never allow myself to become complacent again. If the pilot in the left seat cannot be pilot in-command then all changes must be verified before action can be taken. It is the moral duty of the flight instructor.
A Flight Instructor described how his non-pilot aircraft owner began a descent without clearance.