Misset altimeter 1' off. Barometer 30 pt 56 set 29 pt 56.

Attributes
ACN	174982
Time
Date	199104
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sie
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tower : dxr
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	174982
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	174646
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 30000 vertical : 1500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Descending for phl just south of sea isle VOR, we were cleared to 15000'. Earlier I had copied the phl ATIS with an altimeter setting of 30.56. A request by the controller to, 'expedite to 15000 due to 12 O'clock traffic at 16000',' prompted the first alarmed feeling--something was not right. Since we were descending through 15300' as he spoke, leveling at 15000' the called traffic appeared on TCAS, indicating 100' from our altitude. Simultaneous with the realization that we were 100' vertical of oncoming traffic, an altimeter setting error was discovered (by checking the ATIS card). A further descent was initiated and the controller issued a descent to 10000'. Although I had copied the correct altimeter setting of 30.56, 29.56 was set and called during the preliminary landing checklist, as I apparently mentally focused on just the last 2 digits. Never again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MISSET ALTIMETER 1' OFF. BAROMETER 30 PT 56 SET 29 PT 56.

Narrative: DSNDING FOR PHL JUST S OF SEA ISLE VOR, WE WERE CLRED TO 15000'. EARLIER I HAD COPIED THE PHL ATIS WITH AN ALTIMETER SETTING OF 30.56. A REQUEST BY THE CTLR TO, 'EXPEDITE TO 15000 DUE TO 12 O'CLOCK TFC AT 16000',' PROMPTED THE FIRST ALARMED FEELING--SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT. SINCE WE WERE DSNDING THROUGH 15300' AS HE SPOKE, LEVELING AT 15000' THE CALLED TFC APPEARED ON TCAS, INDICATING 100' FROM OUR ALT. SIMULTANEOUS WITH THE REALIZATION THAT WE WERE 100' VERT OF ONCOMING TFC, AN ALTIMETER SETTING ERROR WAS DISCOVERED (BY CHKING THE ATIS CARD). A FURTHER DSNT WAS INITIATED AND THE CTLR ISSUED A DSNT TO 10000'. ALTHOUGH I HAD COPIED THE CORRECT ALTIMETER SETTING OF 30.56, 29.56 WAS SET AND CALLED DURING THE PRELIMINARY LNDG CHKLIST, AS I APPARENTLY MENTALLY FOCUSED ON JUST THE LAST 2 DIGITS. NEVER AGAIN.

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.