Air carrier flight crew neglects to set altimeter climbing through 18000 ft until queried by ARTCC.

Attributes
ACN	464180
Time
Date	200002
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : jst.vortac
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 30500 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : j211.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	464180
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Neither pilot remembered to set altimeters to 29.92 climbing through FL180 (altitude setting was left at 30.49). Over jst on J211 ATC inquired as to our altitude which showed FL310 but was actually about FL305. Immediately realizing the error we climbed to FL310.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC NEGLECTS TO SET ALTIMETER CLBING THROUGH 18000 FT UNTIL QUERIED BY ARTCC.

Narrative: NEITHER PLT REMEMBERED TO SET ALTIMETERS TO 29.92 CLBING THROUGH FL180 (ALT SETTING WAS LEFT AT 30.49). OVER JST ON J211 ATC INQUIRED AS TO OUR ALT WHICH SHOWED FL310 BUT WAS ACTUALLY ABOUT FL305. IMMEDIATELY REALIZING THE ERROR WE CLBED TO FL310.

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.