BE200 captain reports incorrectly hearing and setting his altimeter during descent; although the cop...

Attributes
ACN	1012697
Time
Date	201205
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Super King Air 200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Altimeter
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 90 Flight Crew Total 4900 Flight Crew Type 140
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

During descent from cruise altitude of FL260; weather was picked up and the captain heard the altimeter setting of 30.61. Once passing FL180 captain set altimeter to 30.61 and commented to the copilot about the very high pressure setting. Co-pilot acknowledged the same and the descent continued. ATC never gave a local altimeter during the descent; and never mentioned discrepancy until we leveled at 10;000; then told us to maintain 10;000; while once again not stating the altimeter setting. We acknowledged with level at 10;000 again no mention of an altimeter setting. The co-pilot then got the field in sight and we were cleared for the visual; the co-pilot switched to CTAF; and I queried ATC if my altitude was showing what it should? About then I noticed the co-pilot's altimeter was 1;000 ft below mine set at 29.61. ATC said that we had been up to 600 ft off at the last 3 level offs. Everything turned out normal but there was definitely a break down between the 2 pilots and ATC in that the obvious was never stated; and the altimeter be given and or cross checked between pilots there was a verbal cross check but obviously not a visual cross check.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE200 Captain reports incorrectly hearing and setting his altimeter during descent; although the Copilot's altimeter was set correctly. This was not detected by ATC or either pilot through three level offs. After being cleared for a visual approach the discrepancy was detected.

Narrative: During descent from cruise altitude of FL260; weather was picked up and the Captain heard the altimeter setting of 30.61. Once passing FL180 Captain set altimeter to 30.61 and commented to the copilot about the very high pressure setting. Co-pilot acknowledged the same and the descent continued. ATC never gave a local altimeter during the descent; and never mentioned discrepancy until we leveled at 10;000; then told us to maintain 10;000; while once again not stating the altimeter setting. We acknowledged with level at 10;000 again no mention of an altimeter setting. The co-pilot then got the field in sight and we were cleared for the visual; the co-pilot switched to CTAF; and I queried ATC if my altitude was showing what it should? About then I noticed the co-pilot's altimeter was 1;000 FT below mine set at 29.61. ATC said that we had been up to 600 FT off at the last 3 level offs. Everything turned out normal but there was definitely a break down between the 2 pilots and ATC in that the obvious was never stated; and the altimeter be given and or cross checked between pilots there was a verbal cross check but obviously not a visual cross check.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

BE200 captain reports incorrectly hearing and setting his altimeter during descent; although the copilot's altimeter was set correctly. This was not detected by ATC or either pilot through three level offs. After being cleared for a visual approach the discrepancy was detected.