MD80 crew did not set qne at the transition level.

Attributes
ACN	502559
Time
Date	200102
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zdc.artcc
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25400 msl bound upper : 26000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	other
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : j6.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	502559
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	502560
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was the PF. When the PNF checked in with ZDC at FL260, they asked us to confirm our altitude, that they were showing us 600 ft low. We then discovered that we had failed to reset the altimeters going through FL180. The altimeter for takeoff was 30.59 thus accounting for the error. We reset the altimeters and climbed to FL260 and center confirmed they were showing us level at FL260. In retrospect, we discussed why we had missed resetting the altimeters and it involved several distrs: #1 flight attendant entered the cockpit during the climb to get our beverage order, then we entered clouds and were putting anti-ice on, there were a couple altitude clrncs to FL260, then back to FL250, and then back to FL260. In the business of doing all the other things, attention was diverted and we missed the change of altimeters.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW DID NOT SET QNE AT THE TRANSITION LEVEL.

Narrative: I WAS THE PF. WHEN THE PNF CHKED IN WITH ZDC AT FL260, THEY ASKED US TO CONFIRM OUR ALT, THAT THEY WERE SHOWING US 600 FT LOW. WE THEN DISCOVERED THAT WE HAD FAILED TO RESET THE ALTIMETERS GOING THROUGH FL180. THE ALTIMETER FOR TKOF WAS 30.59 THUS ACCOUNTING FOR THE ERROR. WE RESET THE ALTIMETERS AND CLBED TO FL260 AND CTR CONFIRMED THEY WERE SHOWING US LEVEL AT FL260. IN RETROSPECT, WE DISCUSSED WHY WE HAD MISSED RESETTING THE ALTIMETERS AND IT INVOLVED SEVERAL DISTRS: #1 FLT ATTENDANT ENTERED THE COCKPIT DURING THE CLB TO GET OUR BEVERAGE ORDER, THEN WE ENTERED CLOUDS AND WERE PUTTING ANTI-ICE ON, THERE WERE A COUPLE ALT CLRNCS TO FL260, THEN BACK TO FL250, AND THEN BACK TO FL260. IN THE BUSINESS OF DOING ALL THE OTHER THINGS, ATTN WAS DIVERTED AND WE MISSED THE CHANGE OF ALTIMETERS.

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.