Corp flight crew missets altimeter one inch too high.

Attributes
ACN	176589
Time
Date	199104
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hzl
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 9250 flight time type : 3260
ASRS Report	176589
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a routine flight to the new england area we leveled the aircraft off at the assigned cruise altitude of 17000'. We were under the control authority of the appropriate center. Upon frequency change to the next sector we were given the local altimeter and noticed that the setting was inappropriate for the cruise altitude. We questioned the controller and determined that the setting from takeoff (30.35) was not the correct setting for current pressure (29.35). Upon changing the setting and correcting our altitude we began to discuss how this could have happened. I was amazed that no one caught the problem. The initial report to departure control didn't cause a correction, nor did the entire trip at cruise through the first center sector. Only when we questioned the setting did we become aware of it. Later in another center's airspace we were given 'bridgeport altimeter 30.37, uh better use bradley, 29.34. That sounds closer', or words to that effect. We also heard another aircraft report on the frequency with an obviously incorrect setting at about the same time. Obviously this is a problem that will probably not be solved overnight. Checking all the numbers on the altimeter during taxi should have kept two highly experienced airmen from making so basic a blunder.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP FLT CREW MISSETS ALTIMETER ONE INCH TOO HIGH.

Narrative: ON A ROUTINE FLT TO THE NEW ENGLAND AREA WE LEVELED THE ACFT OFF AT THE ASSIGNED CRUISE ALT OF 17000'. WE WERE UNDER THE CTL AUTHORITY OF THE APPROPRIATE CTR. UPON FREQ CHANGE TO THE NEXT SECTOR WE WERE GIVEN THE LCL ALTIMETER AND NOTICED THAT THE SETTING WAS INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE CRUISE ALT. WE QUESTIONED THE CTLR AND DETERMINED THAT THE SETTING FROM TKOF (30.35) WAS NOT THE CORRECT SETTING FOR CURRENT PRESSURE (29.35). UPON CHANGING THE SETTING AND CORRECTING OUR ALT WE BEGAN TO DISCUSS HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. I WAS AMAZED THAT NO ONE CAUGHT THE PROB. THE INITIAL RPT TO DEP CTL DIDN'T CAUSE A CORRECTION, NOR DID THE ENTIRE TRIP AT CRUISE THROUGH THE FIRST CTR SECTOR. ONLY WHEN WE QUESTIONED THE SETTING DID WE BECOME AWARE OF IT. LATER IN ANOTHER CTR'S AIRSPACE WE WERE GIVEN 'BRIDGEPORT ALTIMETER 30.37, UH BETTER USE BRADLEY, 29.34. THAT SOUNDS CLOSER', OR WORDS TO THAT EFFECT. WE ALSO HEARD ANOTHER ACFT RPT ON THE FREQ WITH AN OBVIOUSLY INCORRECT SETTING AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A PROB THAT WILL PROBABLY NOT BE SOLVED OVERNIGHT. CHKING ALL THE NUMBERS ON THE ALTIMETER DURING TAXI SHOULD HAVE KEPT TWO HIGHLY EXPERIENCED AIRMEN FROM MAKING SO BASIC A BLUNDER.

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.