MD87 crew sets altimeter to inches of millibars in european operation and finds themselves 500 ft lo...

Attributes
ACN	450580
Time
Date	199910
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	MD-87
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 19270 flight time type : 3600
ASRS Report	450580
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On descent to the bremen airport, the ATIS was received and altimeters set to 29.93 inches. The aircraft entered VMC passing through 6000 ft MSL (5986 AGL) with the airport in sight. As we leveled off at 2500 ft MSL, the controller stated we were approximately 500 ft low on altitude. With the airport in sight, the airport was called in sight and a visual approach was requested. After landing, taxi in and shutdown, we discovered the altimeters were set at 29.92 inches and should have been set at 99.3 ml. Contributing factors: 1) on duty 26 hours (fatigue). 2) 12 hour flight with 1 stop for fuel and all night transatlantic flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD87 CREW SETS ALTIMETER TO INCHES OF MILLIBARS IN EUROPEAN OP AND FINDS THEMSELVES 500 FT LOW.

Narrative: ON DSCNT TO THE BREMEN ARPT, THE ATIS WAS RECEIVED AND ALTIMETERS SET TO 29.93 INCHES. THE ACFT ENTERED VMC PASSING THROUGH 6000 FT MSL (5986 AGL) WITH THE ARPT IN SIGHT. AS WE LEVELED OFF AT 2500 FT MSL, THE CTLR STATED WE WERE APPROX 500 FT LOW ON ALT. WITH THE ARPT IN SIGHT, THE ARPT WAS CALLED IN SIGHT AND A VISUAL APCH WAS REQUESTED. AFTER LNDG, TAXI IN AND SHUTDOWN, WE DISCOVERED THE ALTIMETERS WERE SET AT 29.92 INCHES AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN SET AT 99.3 ML. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 1) ON DUTY 26 HRS (FATIGUE). 2) 12 HR FLT WITH 1 STOP FOR FUEL AND ALL NIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLT.

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.

MD87 crew sets altimeter to inches of millibars in european operation and finds themselves 500 ft low.