Altitude deviation. Wrong altimeter setting.

Attributes
ACN	293162
Time
Date	199501
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mhk
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dsm
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Twin Beech 18
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zkc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 96 flight time total : 17843 flight time type : 78
ASRS Report	293162
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

This flight was an IFR flight from swo to mhk. Swo was VFR 1500 ft overcast 10 mi visibility as I taxied out to takeoff. I tried repeatedly, but unsuccessfully, to contact the mlc FSS or ZKC for my clearance. During my run-up and checklist, I set the field elevation 986 ft on the altimeter. I departed VFR, contacted ZKC and received my clearance, and climbed through the overcast to 6000 ft. In the climb I encountered icing conditions and with my concern of the icing I must have mis-set the altimeter. A frontal passage was in progress and barometer was changing rapidly. My transponder and altitude did not agree, so the center told me to stop altitude squawk, and I would be tracked as a primary target. Both the center and I concluded the transponder was faulty. I was then cleared to 8000 ft as requested to continue to stay out of icing conditions. I was troubled by the transponder, so I asked the next sector to check my altitude readout again (mkc 120.2). Then I suddenly was surprised to realize I had set my altimeter wrong at 30.82 instead of 29.82. It was difficult to believe, my transponder reported 7300 ft and my altimeter 8000 ft. I told the center I set my altimeter wrong. After this, the flight was normal with an approach to mhk. The letter included to me was accepted with gratitude, and I will follow his excellent suggestions. I hate mistakes in the cockpit, and now must learn this lesson, never to be repeated. I know that my 29 yrs of flying and my hours in the air do not guarantee any results but only provide experience to help one to maintain excellence. My axiom has been 'strive for perfection because one usually gets something less.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV. WRONG ALTIMETER SETTING.

Narrative: THIS FLT WAS AN IFR FLT FROM SWO TO MHK. SWO WAS VFR 1500 FT OVCST 10 MI VISIBILITY AS I TAXIED OUT TO TKOF. I TRIED REPEATEDLY, BUT UNSUCCESSFULLY, TO CONTACT THE MLC FSS OR ZKC FOR MY CLRNC. DURING MY RUN-UP AND CHKLIST, I SET THE FIELD ELEVATION 986 FT ON THE ALTIMETER. I DEPARTED VFR, CONTACTED ZKC AND RECEIVED MY CLRNC, AND CLBED THROUGH THE OVCST TO 6000 FT. IN THE CLB I ENCOUNTERED ICING CONDITIONS AND WITH MY CONCERN OF THE ICING I MUST HAVE MIS-SET THE ALTIMETER. A FRONTAL PASSAGE WAS IN PROGRESS AND BAROMETER WAS CHANGING RAPIDLY. MY XPONDER AND ALT DID NOT AGREE, SO THE CTR TOLD ME TO STOP ALT SQUAWK, AND I WOULD BE TRACKED AS A PRIMARY TARGET. BOTH THE CTR AND I CONCLUDED THE XPONDER WAS FAULTY. I WAS THEN CLRED TO 8000 FT AS REQUESTED TO CONTINUE TO STAY OUT OF ICING CONDITIONS. I WAS TROUBLED BY THE XPONDER, SO I ASKED THE NEXT SECTOR TO CHK MY ALT READOUT AGAIN (MKC 120.2). THEN I SUDDENLY WAS SURPRISED TO REALIZE I HAD SET MY ALTIMETER WRONG AT 30.82 INSTEAD OF 29.82. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE, MY XPONDER RPTED 7300 FT AND MY ALTIMETER 8000 FT. I TOLD THE CTR I SET MY ALTIMETER WRONG. AFTER THIS, THE FLT WAS NORMAL WITH AN APCH TO MHK. THE LETTER INCLUDED TO ME WAS ACCEPTED WITH GRATITUDE, AND I WILL FOLLOW HIS EXCELLENT SUGGESTIONS. I HATE MISTAKES IN THE COCKPIT, AND NOW MUST LEARN THIS LESSON, NEVER TO BE REPEATED. I KNOW THAT MY 29 YRS OF FLYING AND MY HRS IN THE AIR DO NOT GUARANTEE ANY RESULTS BUT ONLY PROVIDE EXPERIENCE TO HELP ONE TO MAINTAIN EXCELLENCE. MY AXIOM HAS BEEN 'STRIVE FOR PERFECTION BECAUSE ONE USUALLY GETS SOMETHING LESS.'

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.