Narrative:

Altimeter at phl was 29.43. We failed to reset altimeter passing FL180. We were cleared to FL240. Center called out traffic and told us we were 400 ft high and to descend to FL240. When we passed the traffic, he was at FL250 and we were at FL240 at approximately 4 mi. Factors contributing: severe WX. When we passed FL180, we were maneuvering around severe WX and trying to get a higher altitude from ATC. We were experiencing quite a bit of turbulence. I was putting so much attention on getting higher and out of the turbulence, I failed to reset my altimeter.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW CLBING OUT OF PHL FAILED TO CHANGE ALTIMETER PASSING FL180.

Narrative: ALTIMETER AT PHL WAS 29.43. WE FAILED TO RESET ALTIMETER PASSING FL180. WE WERE CLRED TO FL240. CTR CALLED OUT TFC AND TOLD US WE WERE 400 FT HIGH AND TO DSND TO FL240. WHEN WE PASSED THE TFC, HE WAS AT FL250 AND WE WERE AT FL240 AT APPROX 4 MI. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING: SEVERE WX. WHEN WE PASSED FL180, WE WERE MANEUVERING AROUND SEVERE WX AND TRYING TO GET A HIGHER ALT FROM ATC. WE WERE EXPERIENCING QUITE A BIT OF TURB. I WAS PUTTING SO MUCH ATTN ON GETTING HIGHER AND OUT OF THE TURB, I FAILED TO RESET MY ALTIMETER.

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.