A crossing restr is not met because of the altimeter not being set to qnh during descent below FL180...

Attributes
ACN	571930
Time
Date	200301
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : howdy
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 11500
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	571930
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	572207
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While passing through FL180, received a handoff from ZFW to regional approach. Had been previously issued a clearance to cross howdy intersection at 11000 ft. My first officer was the PF. I (the captain) was the PNF. Since FL180 was the transition altitude, altimeters should have been switched over from 29.92 to 30.42. As a result of this action not being accomplished, our leveloff was 500 ft higher than should have been. When approach asked about our altitude, I realized this fact. I was somewhat dismayed at my oversight of this all too important checklist item, and wondered what contributed to this. I think I know what happened. When the handoff came from ZFW at FL180, I thought this was an early handoff. I wondered if I were to request the west side for parking, would I get it? I let an event that occurred at a time that it was unexpected, and thoughts of post-landing events basically override what should normally take place. Additionally, lately, I have been going the extra mi to conserve fuel as well as achieve early if not on-time arrs. I should re-double my efforts to ensure that these extra efforts not replace normal checklist discipline.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A XING RESTR IS NOT MET BECAUSE OF THE ALTIMETER NOT BEING SET TO QNH DURING DSCNT BELOW FL180.

Narrative: WHILE PASSING THROUGH FL180, RECEIVED A HDOF FROM ZFW TO REGIONAL APCH. HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY ISSUED A CLRNC TO CROSS HOWDY INTXN AT 11000 FT. MY FO WAS THE PF. I (THE CAPT) WAS THE PNF. SINCE FL180 WAS THE TRANSITION ALT, ALTIMETERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SWITCHED OVER FROM 29.92 TO 30.42. AS A RESULT OF THIS ACTION NOT BEING ACCOMPLISHED, OUR LEVELOFF WAS 500 FT HIGHER THAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN. WHEN APCH ASKED ABOUT OUR ALT, I REALIZED THIS FACT. I WAS SOMEWHAT DISMAYED AT MY OVERSIGHT OF THIS ALL TOO IMPORTANT CHKLIST ITEM, AND WONDERED WHAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS. I THINK I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. WHEN THE HDOF CAME FROM ZFW AT FL180, I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN EARLY HDOF. I WONDERED IF I WERE TO REQUEST THE W SIDE FOR PARKING, WOULD I GET IT? I LET AN EVENT THAT OCCURRED AT A TIME THAT IT WAS UNEXPECTED, AND THOUGHTS OF POST-LNDG EVENTS BASICALLY OVERRIDE WHAT SHOULD NORMALLY TAKE PLACE. ADDITIONALLY, LATELY, I HAVE BEEN GOING THE EXTRA MI TO CONSERVE FUEL AS WELL AS ACHIEVE EARLY IF NOT ON-TIME ARRS. I SHOULD RE-DOUBLE MY EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT THESE EXTRA EFFORTS NOT REPLACE NORMAL CHKLIST DISCIPLINE.

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.