Narrative:

The flight was a captain IOE training flight. The altimeter setting at the departure airport was 28.70 (approximately). Passing FL180 both pilots reset their altimeters and acknowledged '92 set.' the captain had inadvertently set 28.92. The aircraft leveled at FL260 (which was set in the FMC) although the MCP altitude was set correctly at the assigned altitude of FL280. When the aircraft leveled at FL260 the captain scanned the first officer's altimeter and noticed only that the pointer was vertical at the 12 O'clock position as was his. The cruise altitude of FL280 was set in the FMC and the aircraft continued to climb. After leveling off at 'FL280' center asked if we wanted FL310. We said no, FL280 was fine, and they said 'we show you at FL290.' obviously any altitude/altimeter check must include '29.92 set' and both altimeters closely examined. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that the flight described was from ketchikan to sitka, ak, for the purpose of an initial operating en route captain's check. He further stated that he will always use the full altimeter setting numbers when calling out the setting with other flight crew members.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF MLG ACR ACFT INADVERTENTLY MISSET ALTIMETER WHEN CLBING THROUGH FL180 CAUSING A 1000 FT OVERSHOOT AT LEVEL OFF.

Narrative: THE FLT WAS A CAPT IOE TRAINING FLT. THE ALTIMETER SETTING AT THE DEP ARPT WAS 28.70 (APPROX). PASSING FL180 BOTH PLTS RESET THEIR ALTIMETERS AND ACKNOWLEDGED '92 SET.' THE CAPT HAD INADVERTENTLY SET 28.92. THE ACFT LEVELED AT FL260 (WHICH WAS SET IN THE FMC) ALTHOUGH THE MCP ALT WAS SET CORRECTLY AT THE ASSIGNED ALT OF FL280. WHEN THE ACFT LEVELED AT FL260 THE CAPT SCANNED THE FO'S ALTIMETER AND NOTICED ONLY THAT THE POINTER WAS VERT AT THE 12 O'CLOCK POS AS WAS HIS. THE CRUISE ALT OF FL280 WAS SET IN THE FMC AND THE ACFT CONTINUED TO CLB. AFTER LEVELING OFF AT 'FL280' CTR ASKED IF WE WANTED FL310. WE SAID NO, FL280 WAS FINE, AND THEY SAID 'WE SHOW YOU AT FL290.' OBVIOUSLY ANY ALT/ALTIMETER CHK MUST INCLUDE '29.92 SET' AND BOTH ALTIMETERS CLOSELY EXAMINED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT THE FLT DESCRIBED WAS FROM KETCHIKAN TO SITKA, AK, FOR THE PURPOSE OF AN INITIAL OPERATING ENRTE CAPT'S CHK. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE WILL ALWAYS USE THE FULL ALTIMETER SETTING NUMBERS WHEN CALLING OUT THE SETTING WITH OTHER FLT CREW MEMBERS.

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.