Flight crew of large transport descended to 16,000 before receiving altimeter setting, 400' low.

Attributes
ACN	127696
Time
Date	198911
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vcn
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15500 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tower : lga
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	127696
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After leveling at 180, center asked about our altitude and said we were showing 300' low (on his scope). We checked our altimeters and setting to 29.92. Then we got cleared to 16,000, but no altimeter was given. We hurried to 16,000 before we asked for an altimeter which turned out to be 29.52. That time we probably showed 300-500' low. We immediately corrected after getting the altimeter. The initial deviation was caused by an improper clearance of FL180 which we didn't catch and reject. Trying to figure that one out while attempting to deviate, and hurrying to descend, caused us not to ask for an altimeter until leveling at 16,000' with 29.92. As far as I can remember, we weren't given an altimeter when cleared to 16,000. Center did not report any conflict alert to us. We asked him and he said there were other planes at 17,000 and 15,000 but didn't say how close laterally.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF LGT DESCENDED TO 16,000 BEFORE RECEIVING ALTIMETER SETTING, 400' LOW.

Narrative: AFTER LEVELING AT 180, CENTER ASKED ABOUT OUR ALT AND SAID WE WERE SHOWING 300' LOW (ON HIS SCOPE). WE CHECKED OUR ALTIMETERS AND SETTING TO 29.92. THEN WE GOT CLRED TO 16,000, BUT NO ALTIMETER WAS GIVEN. WE HURRIED TO 16,000 BEFORE WE ASKED FOR AN ALTIMETER WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE 29.52. THAT TIME WE PROBABLY SHOWED 300-500' LOW. WE IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED AFTER GETTING THE ALTIMETER. THE INITIAL DEVIATION WAS CAUSED BY AN IMPROPER CLRNC OF FL180 WHICH WE DIDN'T CATCH AND REJECT. TRYING TO FIGURE THAT ONE OUT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEVIATE, AND HURRYING TO DSND, CAUSED US NOT TO ASK FOR AN ALTIMETER UNTIL LEVELING AT 16,000' WITH 29.92. AS FAR AS I CAN REMEMBER, WE WEREN'T GIVEN AN ALTIMETER WHEN CLRED TO 16,000. CENTER DID NOT REPORT ANY CONFLICT ALERT TO US. WE ASKED HIM AND HE SAID THERE WERE OTHER PLANES AT 17,000 AND 15,000 BUT DIDN'T SAY HOW CLOSE LATERALLY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.