Air carrier B737 undershot assigned altitude of 11000 ft by 800 ft due to wrong altimeter setting.

Attributes
ACN	396840
Time
Date	199803
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : byp
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 11800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw tower : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 62 flight time total : 11862 flight time type : 62
ASRS Report	396840
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot 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	other

Narrative:

We were doing the bonham 2 arrival via tul VOR into dfw airport. I was the first officer and PF. As expected, we were told to cross karla intersection at 11000 ft. As we descended through FL180, I asked for the descent/approach checklist. The captain had earlier copied the ATIS for dfw airport and gave me at that time what he said was the reported altimeter setting. We leveled off at indicated 11000 ft a few mi prior to reaching karla intersection. Not too long after approach control came back on and told us that he was showing us level at 11800 ft and at the same time gave us the current altimeter setting. We immediately knew that the captain had copied a too high altimeter setting from ATIS which he thought was correct. We copied the correct altimeter setting and I immediately reset my altimeter and descended down to 11000 ft. Prior to correcting, it showed 11000 ft and after I reset, it was 11800 ft -- just like approach had told us. Nothing else was said on the radio concerning our leveloff at 11800 ft. Next time when ATC gives us an altitude below FL180, I will make a note about the altimeter setting, so I can compare it with what the ATIS will give us. I will also pay more attention to what altimeter setting ATC gives to other traffic in our area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR B737 UNDERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT OF 11000 FT BY 800 FT DUE TO WRONG ALTIMETER SETTING.

Narrative: WE WERE DOING THE BONHAM 2 ARR VIA TUL VOR INTO DFW ARPT. I WAS THE FO AND PF. AS EXPECTED, WE WERE TOLD TO CROSS KARLA INTXN AT 11000 FT. AS WE DSNDED THROUGH FL180, I ASKED FOR THE DSCNT/APCH CHKLIST. THE CAPT HAD EARLIER COPIED THE ATIS FOR DFW ARPT AND GAVE ME AT THAT TIME WHAT HE SAID WAS THE RPTED ALTIMETER SETTING. WE LEVELED OFF AT INDICATED 11000 FT A FEW MI PRIOR TO REACHING KARLA INTXN. NOT TOO LONG AFTER APCH CTL CAME BACK ON AND TOLD US THAT HE WAS SHOWING US LEVEL AT 11800 FT AND AT THE SAME TIME GAVE US THE CURRENT ALTIMETER SETTING. WE IMMEDIATELY KNEW THAT THE CAPT HAD COPIED A TOO HIGH ALTIMETER SETTING FROM ATIS WHICH HE THOUGHT WAS CORRECT. WE COPIED THE CORRECT ALTIMETER SETTING AND I IMMEDIATELY RESET MY ALTIMETER AND DSNDED DOWN TO 11000 FT. PRIOR TO CORRECTING, IT SHOWED 11000 FT AND AFTER I RESET, IT WAS 11800 FT -- JUST LIKE APCH HAD TOLD US. NOTHING ELSE WAS SAID ON THE RADIO CONCERNING OUR LEVELOFF AT 11800 FT. NEXT TIME WHEN ATC GIVES US AN ALT BELOW FL180, I WILL MAKE A NOTE ABOUT THE ALTIMETER SETTING, SO I CAN COMPARE IT WITH WHAT THE ATIS WILL GIVE US. I WILL ALSO PAY MORE ATTN TO WHAT ALTIMETER SETTING ATC GIVES TO OTHER TFC IN OUR AREA.

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.