Altitude deviation. Flight crew of DC9 failed to reset altimeter to 29 pt 92 in class a airspace.

Attributes
ACN	571776
Time
Date	200301
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : iow.vortac
Altitude	msl bound lower : 30600 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc tower : grr.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	571776
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Climbing out of stl, we leveled off at FL310. We were told by center to climb to FL350 and that we were 400 ft low. We had failed to reset altimeter to 29.92. We reset and no problems from then to landing. We were not distraction at FL180 and do not know why we failed to catch the problem. I have not flown a lot in last 8 weeks, perhaps contributed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV. FLT CREW OF DC9 FAILED TO RESET ALTIMETER TO 29 PT 92 IN CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: CLBING OUT OF STL, WE LEVELED OFF AT FL310. WE WERE TOLD BY CTR TO CLB TO FL350 AND THAT WE WERE 400 FT LOW. WE HAD FAILED TO RESET ALTIMETER TO 29.92. WE RESET AND NO PROBS FROM THEN TO LNDG. WE WERE NOT DISTR AT FL180 AND DO NOT KNOW WHY WE FAILED TO CATCH THE PROB. I HAVE NOT FLOWN A LOT IN LAST 8 WKS, PERHAPS CONTRIBUTED.

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.