B733 crew neglected to reset altimeter passing FL180 during climb out.

Attributes
ACN	502870
Time
Date	200102
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : fwa.vortac
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 22600 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 13300 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	502870
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	502869
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne critical inflight encounter : wake turbulence non adherence : clearance non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : took evasive action other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 2000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During cruise at FL230, ZAU reported traffic at 12:30 O'clock position. We did not see him visually, however, he was on TCASII. He was in level flight 600 ft below us. I wondered why he was only 600 ft below us and crosschecked my altimeter to make sure I was level at FL230. I then noticed my altimeter was still set to 30.36. I began an immediate climb and reset the altimeter. At this time I think the other aircraft was 7 mi and 600 ft below us. During the climb we received a TCASII TA followed by a TCASII RA 'climb.' the other aircraft reported a TCASII RA and descended to FL210. The controller at this time asked us to verify our altitude and we were at FL230. The other aircraft passed 2 mi to our right, 2000 ft below us. Looking back, I do not recall the FL180 check. During climb out, we encountered wake turbulence severe enough to disconnect the autoplt. This may have happened about FL180 but I'm not sure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B733 CREW NEGLECTED TO RESET ALTIMETER PASSING FL180 DURING CLBOUT.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE AT FL230, ZAU RPTED TFC AT 12:30 O'CLOCK POS. WE DID NOT SEE HIM VISUALLY, HOWEVER, HE WAS ON TCASII. HE WAS IN LEVEL FLT 600 FT BELOW US. I WONDERED WHY HE WAS ONLY 600 FT BELOW US AND XCHKED MY ALTIMETER TO MAKE SURE I WAS LEVEL AT FL230. I THEN NOTICED MY ALTIMETER WAS STILL SET TO 30.36. I BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE CLB AND RESET THE ALTIMETER. AT THIS TIME I THINK THE OTHER ACFT WAS 7 MI AND 600 FT BELOW US. DURING THE CLB WE RECEIVED A TCASII TA FOLLOWED BY A TCASII RA 'CLB.' THE OTHER ACFT RPTED A TCASII RA AND DSNDED TO FL210. THE CTLR AT THIS TIME ASKED US TO VERIFY OUR ALT AND WE WERE AT FL230. THE OTHER ACFT PASSED 2 MI TO OUR R, 2000 FT BELOW US. LOOKING BACK, I DO NOT RECALL THE FL180 CHK. DURING CLBOUT, WE ENCOUNTERED WAKE TURB SEVERE ENOUGH TO DISCONNECT THE AUTOPLT. THIS MAY HAVE HAPPENED ABOUT FL180 BUT I'M NOT SURE.

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.