Altitude deviation altitude overshot in climb when flight crew fails to reset altimeter passing FL18...

Attributes
ACN	319760
Time
Date	199510
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vwv
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 19500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 280 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	319760
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Having accepted a climb to 20000 ft, out of 14000 ft, the first officer left the frequency to give out/off times to station and to give the required seat belt sign briefing. During his 'absence' center amended our climb clearance to 19000 ft. ATC's call came as I was pushing the barometer knob to standard pressure. Local altimeter was approximately 29.26. I did not verify the standard pressure due to ATC call with amended altitude and the issuance of a frequency change. When I checked on with the next center and checked the altimeter for verification on my call-in I noted the altimeter setting flashing, indicating passage through 18000 ft. I pushed the barometer knob and read 19400 ft. By the time I halted my climb and started descent to 19000 ft, I read 19500 ft altitude. Traffic was 7-10 mi distant. The first officer and I had verified his absence from 'flying.' he played no part in this deviation. Too many numbers, frequency change, altitude change, etc. I really can't forgive this deviation. Those multiple information's from center are really quite common. It just happened.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT IN CLB WHEN FLT CREW FAILS TO RESET ALTIMETER PASSING FL180.

Narrative: HAVING ACCEPTED A CLB TO 20000 FT, OUT OF 14000 FT, THE FO LEFT THE FREQ TO GIVE OUT/OFF TIMES TO STATION AND TO GIVE THE REQUIRED SEAT BELT SIGN BRIEFING. DURING HIS 'ABSENCE' CTR AMENDED OUR CLB CLRNC TO 19000 FT. ATC'S CALL CAME AS I WAS PUSHING THE BAROMETER KNOB TO STANDARD PRESSURE. LCL ALTIMETER WAS APPROX 29.26. I DID NOT VERIFY THE STANDARD PRESSURE DUE TO ATC CALL WITH AMENDED ALT AND THE ISSUANCE OF A FREQ CHANGE. WHEN I CHKED ON WITH THE NEXT CTR AND CHKED THE ALTIMETER FOR VERIFICATION ON MY CALL-IN I NOTED THE ALTIMETER SETTING FLASHING, INDICATING PASSAGE THROUGH 18000 FT. I PUSHED THE BAROMETER KNOB AND READ 19400 FT. BY THE TIME I HALTED MY CLB AND STARTED DSCNT TO 19000 FT, I READ 19500 FT ALT. TFC WAS 7-10 MI DISTANT. THE FO AND I HAD VERIFIED HIS ABSENCE FROM 'FLYING.' HE PLAYED NO PART IN THIS DEV. TOO MANY NUMBERS, FREQ CHANGE, ALT CHANGE, ETC. I REALLY CAN'T FORGIVE THIS DEV. THOSE MULTIPLE INFO'S FROM CTR ARE REALLY QUITE COMMON. IT JUST HAPPENED.

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.

Altitude deviation altitude overshot in climb when flight crew fails to reset altimeter passing FL180.