Air carrier flight crew forgets to reset altimeter passing FL180 on descent.

Attributes
ACN	301334
Time
Date	199504
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : buj
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8550 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	301334
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During the descent, we simply forgot to do the 18000 ft portion of the descent check. The altimeter being 29.47 inches, when we leveled at 9000 ft, we were actually at 8550 ft! Approach reminded us of the altimeter and we got back to altitude. What caused this? Guess what? Last leg of a long 3-DAY trip, and a long day to boot. There was also a jumpseat rider who was very professional. He didn't catch it either.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC FORGETS TO RESET ALTIMETER PASSING FL180 ON DSCNT.

Narrative: DURING THE DSCNT, WE SIMPLY FORGOT TO DO THE 18000 FT PORTION OF THE DSCNT CHK. THE ALTIMETER BEING 29.47 INCHES, WHEN WE LEVELED AT 9000 FT, WE WERE ACTUALLY AT 8550 FT! APCH REMINDED US OF THE ALTIMETER AND WE GOT BACK TO ALT. WHAT CAUSED THIS? GUESS WHAT? LAST LEG OF A LONG 3-DAY TRIP, AND A LONG DAY TO BOOT. THERE WAS ALSO A JUMPSEAT RIDER WHO WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL. HE DIDN'T CATCH IT EITHER.

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.