Pilot of a cessna corsair 425, C425, failed to reset altimeter when climbing through FL180 resulting...

Attributes
ACN	423521
Time
Date	199812
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18500 msl bound upper : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Corsair
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zoa
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 4100 flight time type : 260
ASRS Report	423521
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Was flying a family of 5 and 2 dogs to bozeman, mt, from oakland. Filed for FL190. Was cleared to FL190 somewhere before sacramento. Was on 119.47 (ZOA). Did not change altimeter from 30.54 to 29.92 when passing FL180. Controller didn't notice. May have thought I was still climbing. Handed off to 127.95 to cross sierras. Controller asked me what altitude I was assigned. I said 'FL190,' then realized my error, set my altimeter and it said FL185 when set to 29.92! I promptly climbed to FL190 and the controller didn't seem bothered. I also apologized. The flight went fine after that, except for a temporary inverter problem. Contributing factors: 1) trying to entertain one of the kids who sat in the right seat. 2) food and 1 glass of wine and not enough sleep. The wind was 16 hours earlier, but had an effect (as I found out) especially when the cabin altitude climbed. I'd say the food and sleep is the main factor and that includes the wine. I drink a total of 2-3 bottles a yr, so I'm hardly a drinker. This was very expensive and very rich red wine! I really learned how altitude can intensify what seems like a minor hangover.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A CESSNA CORSAIR 425, C425, FAILED TO RESET ALTIMETER WHEN CLBING THROUGH FL180 RESULTING IN LEVELING OFF 500 FT LOW AT FL185 RATHER THAN ASSIGNED FL190. HE ALSO BELIEVED THAT HE FELT HUNG OVER FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE.

Narrative: WAS FLYING A FAMILY OF 5 AND 2 DOGS TO BOZEMAN, MT, FROM OAKLAND. FILED FOR FL190. WAS CLRED TO FL190 SOMEWHERE BEFORE SACRAMENTO. WAS ON 119.47 (ZOA). DID NOT CHANGE ALTIMETER FROM 30.54 TO 29.92 WHEN PASSING FL180. CTLR DIDN'T NOTICE. MAY HAVE THOUGHT I WAS STILL CLBING. HANDED OFF TO 127.95 TO CROSS SIERRAS. CTLR ASKED ME WHAT ALT I WAS ASSIGNED. I SAID 'FL190,' THEN REALIZED MY ERROR, SET MY ALTIMETER AND IT SAID FL185 WHEN SET TO 29.92! I PROMPTLY CLBED TO FL190 AND THE CTLR DIDN'T SEEM BOTHERED. I ALSO APOLOGIZED. THE FLT WENT FINE AFTER THAT, EXCEPT FOR A TEMPORARY INVERTER PROB. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 1) TRYING TO ENTERTAIN ONE OF THE KIDS WHO SAT IN THE R SEAT. 2) FOOD AND 1 GLASS OF WINE AND NOT ENOUGH SLEEP. THE WIND WAS 16 HRS EARLIER, BUT HAD AN EFFECT (AS I FOUND OUT) ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CABIN ALT CLBED. I'D SAY THE FOOD AND SLEEP IS THE MAIN FACTOR AND THAT INCLUDES THE WINE. I DRINK A TOTAL OF 2-3 BOTTLES A YR, SO I'M HARDLY A DRINKER. THIS WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AND VERY RICH RED WINE! I REALLY LEARNED HOW ALT CAN INTENSIFY WHAT SEEMS LIKE A MINOR HANGOVER.

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.

Pilot of a cessna corsair 425, C425, failed to reset altimeter when climbing through FL180 resulting in leveling off 500 ft low at FL185 rather than assigned FL190. He also believed that he felt hung over from the night before.