A jetstream 32 flight crew failed to reset altimeters above FL180 near champaign, il.

Attributes
ACN	434580
Time
Date	199904
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : fwa.vortac
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 19300
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Jetstream 32
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 2800 flight time type : 950
ASRS Report	434580
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned airspace
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Our planned cruise altitude was 17000 ft but there was moderate icing from 10000 ft up to tops of overcast. As we leveled at 17000 ft, we requested FL190 from ZAU after frequency change. Our request was granted and proceeded to FL190 where ATC asked our altitude and altimeter setting. At that point we realized that we neglected to set our altimeters to 29.92 when passing FL180, which left us at FL193, 300 ft off the assigned altitude. We then acknowledged the altimeter setting as 29.92 and leveled at FL190 with nothing further said. I believe that a contributing factor to our error was our preoccupation with the icing conditions in a climb to a high altitude, and getting above the cloud tops at FL180. A human factor/performance problem we had was our misconception that arriving at cruise in VFR conditions is a time to lose concentration!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A JETSTREAM 32 FLC FAILED TO RESET ALTIMETERS ABOVE FL180 NEAR CHAMPAIGN, IL.

Narrative: OUR PLANNED CRUISE ALT WAS 17000 FT BUT THERE WAS MODERATE ICING FROM 10000 FT UP TO TOPS OF OVCST. AS WE LEVELED AT 17000 FT, WE REQUESTED FL190 FROM ZAU AFTER FREQ CHANGE. OUR REQUEST WAS GRANTED AND PROCEEDED TO FL190 WHERE ATC ASKED OUR ALT AND ALTIMETER SETTING. AT THAT POINT WE REALIZED THAT WE NEGLECTED TO SET OUR ALTIMETERS TO 29.92 WHEN PASSING FL180, WHICH LEFT US AT FL193, 300 FT OFF THE ASSIGNED ALT. WE THEN ACKNOWLEDGED THE ALTIMETER SETTING AS 29.92 AND LEVELED AT FL190 WITH NOTHING FURTHER SAID. I BELIEVE THAT A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO OUR ERROR WAS OUR PREOCCUPATION WITH THE ICING CONDITIONS IN A CLB TO A HIGH ALT, AND GETTING ABOVE THE CLOUD TOPS AT FL180. A HUMAN FACTOR/PERFORMANCE PROB WE HAD WAS OUR MISCONCEPTION THAT ARRIVING AT CRUISE IN VFR CONDITIONS IS A TIME TO LOSE CONCENTRATION!

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.