Narrative:

Cleared to 11000', descending through FL180. The preliminary landing checklist was accomplished and the current altimeter setting of 29.54' was challenged by the PNF as '.54 on the altimeters.' I (the PF) responded with '.54 checked and set.' upon handoff to approach control, the PNF noticed on his altimeter that we were passing through 10700'. A quick glance at my altimeter revealed an altitude of 11700' and an erroneous altimeter setting of 30.54.' my altimeter was indicating 1000' higher than our actual altitude. A climb was initiated immediately to 11000'. Since the erroneous altimeter setting was on the captain's altimeter, and the altitude alerter receives its information from this same INS, no altitude deviation alert was sounded. This situation could have been alleviated by calling out all 4 digits of the altimeter setting (with particular emphasis on low settings) and x-chking to ensure that they are properly set. An approved company ATIS data card for terminal WX information to be written on, would also help correct the situation of having terminal WX read aloud from the PNF or written on napkins and various pieces of paper that are placed in different areas in the cockpit. This would provide standardization with a visibility cue care to review terminal WX information when workload permits, and not daring a critical phase of flight where you have to listen to ATC in one ear and ATIS information in the other.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF MLG MISSET ALTIMETER ON DESCENT BELOW 18000'.

Narrative: CLRED TO 11000', DSNDING THROUGH FL180. THE PRELIMINARY LNDG CHKLIST WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND THE CURRENT ALTIMETER SETTING OF 29.54' WAS CHALLENGED BY THE PNF AS '.54 ON THE ALTIMETERS.' I (THE PF) RESPONDED WITH '.54 CHKED AND SET.' UPON HDOF TO APCH CTL, THE PNF NOTICED ON HIS ALTIMETER THAT WE WERE PASSING THROUGH 10700'. A QUICK GLANCE AT MY ALTIMETER REVEALED AN ALT OF 11700' AND AN ERRONEOUS ALTIMETER SETTING OF 30.54.' MY ALTIMETER WAS INDICATING 1000' HIGHER THAN OUR ACTUAL ALT. A CLB WAS INITIATED IMMEDIATELY TO 11000'. SINCE THE ERRONEOUS ALTIMETER SETTING WAS ON THE CAPT'S ALTIMETER, AND THE ALT ALERTER RECEIVES ITS INFO FROM THIS SAME INS, NO ALT DEVIATION ALERT WAS SOUNDED. THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN ALLEVIATED BY CALLING OUT ALL 4 DIGITS OF THE ALTIMETER SETTING (WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON LOW SETTINGS) AND X-CHKING TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY SET. AN APPROVED COMPANY ATIS DATA CARD FOR TERMINAL WX INFO TO BE WRITTEN ON, WOULD ALSO HELP CORRECT THE SITUATION OF HAVING TERMINAL WX READ ALOUD FROM THE PNF OR WRITTEN ON NAPKINS AND VARIOUS PIECES OF PAPER THAT ARE PLACED IN DIFFERENT AREAS IN THE COCKPIT. THIS WOULD PROVIDE STANDARDIZATION WITH A VIS CUE CARE TO REVIEW TERMINAL WX INFO WHEN WORKLOAD PERMITS, AND NOT DARING A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLT WHERE YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO ATC IN ONE EAR AND ATIS INFO IN THE OTHER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.