Narrative:

We were cleared to FL250 en route from pit to phl. Climbing through 18000 ft MSL, I called for altimeters to be reset from 30.83 to 29.92. I reset my altimeter and the altitude alerter to 29.92 and heard the captain acknowledge the change in setting, however, I did not witness the action. I then began making routine flight following radio calls and making entries to our log/pay sheet and was essentially 'out of the loop.' the captain leveled off at his altimeter indication of FL250, yet neither of us heard or saw the aural/visual altitude alerter indication of approaching altitude. After several mins at cruise, ARTCC inquired of our altitude, to which I responded FL250 (without verifying visually). ARTCC said he showed FL241. When I crosschecked my altitude against the captain's, I indicated FL240 while his was FL250. I assumed my altimeter had an error. After carefully observing his altimeter setting, I discovered the error - - he had misset his altimeter to 30.92 instead of 29.92, thereby causing his to indicate 1000 ft higher. We immediately asked for and were approved for FL240. No conflicts occurred. I've learned two very important lessons: first, always xchk PF/PNF flight instruments/altimeter settings, and second, always stay 'in the loop' maintaining situational awareness -- especially when approaching assigned altitudes. Paperwork and other non essential duties can wait.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WRONG ALTIMETER SETTING CLBING THROUGH 18000 FT, CAPT SET 30.92 INSTEAD OF 29.92. THUS, LEVELED 1000 FT TOO LOW. ATC ISSUED NEW CLRNC.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO FL250 ENRTE FROM PIT TO PHL. CLBING THROUGH 18000 FT MSL, I CALLED FOR ALTIMETERS TO BE RESET FROM 30.83 TO 29.92. I RESET MY ALTIMETER AND THE ALT ALERTER TO 29.92 AND HEARD THE CAPT ACKNOWLEDGE THE CHANGE IN SETTING, HOWEVER, I DID NOT WITNESS THE ACTION. I THEN BEGAN MAKING ROUTINE FLT FOLLOWING RADIO CALLS AND MAKING ENTRIES TO OUR LOG/PAY SHEET AND WAS ESSENTIALLY 'OUT OF THE LOOP.' THE CAPT LEVELED OFF AT HIS ALTIMETER INDICATION OF FL250, YET NEITHER OF US HEARD OR SAW THE AURAL/VISUAL ALT ALERTER INDICATION OF APCHING ALT. AFTER SEVERAL MINS AT CRUISE, ARTCC INQUIRED OF OUR ALT, TO WHICH I RESPONDED FL250 (WITHOUT VERIFYING VISUALLY). ARTCC SAID HE SHOWED FL241. WHEN I XCHKED MY ALT AGAINST THE CAPT'S, I INDICATED FL240 WHILE HIS WAS FL250. I ASSUMED MY ALTIMETER HAD AN ERROR. AFTER CAREFULLY OBSERVING HIS ALTIMETER SETTING, I DISCOVERED THE ERROR - - HE HAD MISSET HIS ALTIMETER TO 30.92 INSTEAD OF 29.92, THEREBY CAUSING HIS TO INDICATE 1000 FT HIGHER. WE IMMEDIATELY ASKED FOR AND WERE APPROVED FOR FL240. NO CONFLICTS OCCURRED. I'VE LEARNED TWO VERY IMPORTANT LESSONS: FIRST, ALWAYS XCHK PF/PNF FLT INSTS/ALTIMETER SETTINGS, AND SECOND, ALWAYS STAY 'IN THE LOOP' MAINTAINING SITUATIONAL AWARENESS -- ESPECIALLY WHEN APCHING ASSIGNED ALTS. PAPERWORK AND OTHER NON ESSENTIAL DUTIES CAN WAIT.

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.