<< >> NASA ASRS Report 259230, December 1993

Widebody transport cargo flight descends to less than 1000 ft above the water when the wrong altimeter setting is used.

Attributes
ACN	259230
Time
Date	199312
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : anc
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 800 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : anc tower : dtw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 14500 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	259230
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While descending through 18000 ft, misset altimeters to 29.86 instead of 28.86, after reading back incorrect setting to center (with no correction from them). We were progressively given lower altitudes (10000 ft, 5000 ft, 3500 ft, 1600 ft) before leveling off at last altitude, so between missing the wrong settings on all 3 front instruments, combined with the so not catching the mistake and center/approach not hearing me call back 29.86 no problem became apparent until turning final. We were vectored on base inside the marker and as we picked up the GS we realized something was wrong with our altitude, so we leveled off and I told the first officer to follow the VASI. The landing was normal. I figure we were down to 700-800 ft over the cook inlet when we intercepted the GS. I was under the impression that ATC was supposed to announce a low 28XXX when altimeter setting is below 29.00 inches.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WDB CARGO FLT DSNDS TO LESS THAN 1000 FT ABOVE THE WATER WHEN THE WRONG ALTIMETER SETTING IS USED.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING THROUGH 18000 FT, MISSET ALTIMETERS TO 29.86 INSTEAD OF 28.86, AFTER READING BACK INCORRECT SETTING TO CTR (WITH NO CORRECTION FROM THEM). WE WERE PROGRESSIVELY GIVEN LOWER ALTS (10000 FT, 5000 FT, 3500 FT, 1600 FT) BEFORE LEVELING OFF AT LAST ALT, SO BTWN MISSING THE WRONG SETTINGS ON ALL 3 FRONT INSTS, COMBINED WITH THE SO NOT CATCHING THE MISTAKE AND CTR/APCH NOT HEARING ME CALL BACK 29.86 NO PROB BECAME APPARENT UNTIL TURNING FINAL. WE WERE VECTORED ON BASE INSIDE THE MARKER AND AS WE PICKED UP THE GS WE REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH OUR ALT, SO WE LEVELED OFF AND I TOLD THE FO TO FOLLOW THE VASI. THE LNDG WAS NORMAL. I FIGURE WE WERE DOWN TO 700-800 FT OVER THE COOK INLET WHEN WE INTERCEPTED THE GS. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT ATC WAS SUPPOSED TO ANNOUNCE A LOW 28XXX WHEN ALTIMETER SETTING IS BELOW 29.00 INCHES.

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.