Narrative:

My captain and I arrived in ict at approximately XA30 to drop off 1 passenger and obtain fuel. I was the PNF. Approaching ict, we descended, approached, and landed VFR. While on approach, I obtained the local ATIS. The local altimeter setting was approximately 30.27. That was set into all 3 altimeters. At that time our meters were actually set to 29.27. Being visual, there were no altitude restrs. We had been cleared for a visual approach to runway 18. Upon taxiing out, I was the PF. The PNF obtained the new ATIS. The new altimeter was 30.26. The second mistake was that I assumed the setting was correct, and did not xref the field elevation to the actual elevation on the altimeters. We departed ict for lit. On departure, we were given a climb to 15000 ft MSL. At 1200 ft MSL, we were handed off to center. Departure's last comment was 'don't climb through 15000 ft MSL.' I replied saying 'roger, we are about to level off at 15000 ft.' we checked on with the next controller and he gave us a climb to FL230. I again replied saying 'climbing out of 15000 ft for FL180. Out of approximately 17500 ft, that controller asked us to verify our altitude. A moment prior we had just completed a FL180 check. By the time I responded, we were out of FL183. At that time the controller confirmed our altitude as what we were reporting. It took us a few mins to recreate the events that led to the problem. Fortunately, terrain and other aircraft were never a close factor. Altimeter settings and xchks should never be taken lightly. They should be checked numerous times for avoidance of terrain and safe distances from other aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN LR-31A FO RPTED IMPROPERLY SETTING THE ALTIMETER DURING DEP FROM ICT, CAUSING AN ALT OVERSHOOT.

Narrative: MY CAPT AND I ARRIVED IN ICT AT APPROX XA30 TO DROP OFF 1 PAX AND OBTAIN FUEL. I WAS THE PNF. APCHING ICT, WE DSNDED, APCHED, AND LANDED VFR. WHILE ON APCH, I OBTAINED THE LCL ATIS. THE LCL ALTIMETER SETTING WAS APPROX 30.27. THAT WAS SET INTO ALL 3 ALTIMETERS. AT THAT TIME OUR METERS WERE ACTUALLY SET TO 29.27. BEING VISUAL, THERE WERE NO ALT RESTRS. WE HAD BEEN CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 18. UPON TAXIING OUT, I WAS THE PF. THE PNF OBTAINED THE NEW ATIS. THE NEW ALTIMETER WAS 30.26. THE SECOND MISTAKE WAS THAT I ASSUMED THE SETTING WAS CORRECT, AND DID NOT XREF THE FIELD ELEVATION TO THE ACTUAL ELEVATION ON THE ALTIMETERS. WE DEPARTED ICT FOR LIT. ON DEP, WE WERE GIVEN A CLB TO 15000 FT MSL. AT 1200 FT MSL, WE WERE HANDED OFF TO CTR. DEP'S LAST COMMENT WAS 'DON'T CLB THROUGH 15000 FT MSL.' I REPLIED SAYING 'ROGER, WE ARE ABOUT TO LEVEL OFF AT 15000 FT.' WE CHKED ON WITH THE NEXT CTLR AND HE GAVE US A CLB TO FL230. I AGAIN REPLIED SAYING 'CLBING OUT OF 15000 FT FOR FL180. OUT OF APPROX 17500 FT, THAT CTLR ASKED US TO VERIFY OUR ALT. A MOMENT PRIOR WE HAD JUST COMPLETED A FL180 CHK. BY THE TIME I RESPONDED, WE WERE OUT OF FL183. AT THAT TIME THE CTLR CONFIRMED OUR ALT AS WHAT WE WERE RPTING. IT TOOK US A FEW MINS TO RECREATE THE EVENTS THAT LED TO THE PROB. FORTUNATELY, TERRAIN AND OTHER ACFT WERE NEVER A CLOSE FACTOR. ALTIMETER SETTINGS AND XCHKS SHOULD NEVER BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. THEY SHOULD BE CHKED NUMEROUS TIMES FOR AVOIDANCE OF TERRAIN AND SAFE DISTANCES FROM OTHER ACFT.

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.