Climbing air carrier MD88 overshot assigned altitude of FL310 by 600 ft. PF first officer had wrong ...

Attributes
ACN	389670
Time
Date	199712
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sax
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	other other : other pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	389670
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	other other : other pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	389681
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We had been cleared to climb to FL310, our cruising altitude. Copilot was flying the aircraft. Passing through FL180, a discussion concerning turbulence and rides was ongoing between ATC, cockpit and cabin. Just prior to FL180 I had set 29.92 in my altimeters, but had not initiated climb check. Copilot did not call for climb check either. I missed the 1000 ft below call and when I checked my altimeter we were passing FL313. I asked copilot what altitude he was going to. I realized there was a problem. ATC also called requesting altitude we were climbing to. Copilot had not set his altimeter. The altimeter setting he was using was 29.85. By the time a correction was initiated, the aircraft had climbed to FL316. A descent was made back to FL310. Supplemental information from acn 389681: possibly failed to set 29.92 due to concern for reported turbulence during climb out. Had adjusted climb mode to ensure smooth climb out.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLBING ACR MD88 OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT OF FL310 BY 600 FT. PF FO HAD WRONG ALTIMETER SETTING.

Narrative: WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO CLB TO FL310, OUR CRUISING ALT. COPLT WAS FLYING THE ACFT. PASSING THROUGH FL180, A DISCUSSION CONCERNING TURB AND RIDES WAS ONGOING BTWN ATC, COCKPIT AND CABIN. JUST PRIOR TO FL180 I HAD SET 29.92 IN MY ALTIMETERS, BUT HAD NOT INITIATED CLB CHK. COPLT DID NOT CALL FOR CLB CHK EITHER. I MISSED THE 1000 FT BELOW CALL AND WHEN I CHKED MY ALTIMETER WE WERE PASSING FL313. I ASKED COPLT WHAT ALT HE WAS GOING TO. I REALIZED THERE WAS A PROB. ATC ALSO CALLED REQUESTING ALT WE WERE CLBING TO. COPLT HAD NOT SET HIS ALTIMETER. THE ALTIMETER SETTING HE WAS USING WAS 29.85. BY THE TIME A CORRECTION WAS INITIATED, THE ACFT HAD CLBED TO FL316. A DSCNT WAS MADE BACK TO FL310. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 389681: POSSIBLY FAILED TO SET 29.92 DUE TO CONCERN FOR RPTED TURB DURING CLBOUT. HAD ADJUSTED CLB MODE TO ENSURE SMOOTH CLBOUT.

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.

Climbing air carrier MD88 overshot assigned altitude of FL310 by 600 ft. PF first officer had wrong altimeter setting.