Narrative:

I departed oxc as PIC of a mooney on an instrument flight plan, destination dca. On preflight, I failed to properly set the altimeter, which read approximately 400 ft lower than normal. Initial contact with the controller did not reveal new altimeter setting. Second controller also did not mention altimeter setting. Third controller did not convey altimeter information either. Third controller asked for rapid climb to 6000 ft to ensure separation. Cockpit indicated 6000 ft when airplane was actually at 5600 ft. Third controller expressed extreme displeasure at slow climb, at which point I discovered improperly set altimeter. Recommendations: PIC needs to be more diligent about setting altimeter at preflight, even in VMC. ATC needs to convey altimeter information with every initial contact.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A MOONEY PVT PLT WAS IN IFR CRUISE ON N90 FREQ AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A WRONG ALTIMETER SETTING UNTIL THE THIRD CTLR WAS CONTACTED, 10 NM NW OF BDR, CT.

Narrative: I DEPARTED OXC AS PIC OF A MOONEY ON AN INST FLT PLAN, DEST DCA. ON PREFLT, I FAILED TO PROPERLY SET THE ALTIMETER, WHICH READ APPROX 400 FT LOWER THAN NORMAL. INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE CTLR DID NOT REVEAL NEW ALTIMETER SETTING. SECOND CTLR ALSO DID NOT MENTION ALTIMETER SETTING. THIRD CTLR DID NOT CONVEY ALTIMETER INFO EITHER. THIRD CTLR ASKED FOR RAPID CLB TO 6000 FT TO ENSURE SEPARATION. COCKPIT INDICATED 6000 FT WHEN AIRPLANE WAS ACTUALLY AT 5600 FT. THIRD CTLR EXPRESSED EXTREME DISPLEASURE AT SLOW CLB, AT WHICH POINT I DISCOVERED IMPROPERLY SET ALTIMETER. RECOMMENDATIONS: PIC NEEDS TO BE MORE DILIGENT ABOUT SETTING ALTIMETER AT PREFLT, EVEN IN VMC. ATC NEEDS TO CONVEY ALTIMETER INFO WITH EVERY INITIAL CONTACT.

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.