Narrative:

This was the second day of a 3-DAY pairing. It was our first flight of the day, first officer's leg. Taxi, takeoff and initial climb were normal. As we climbed through 16000 ft, we were IMC and navigating around a large buildup. I decided to inform the flight attendants to remain seated until further notice. It was during this portion of the climb that we missed the FL180 call. At FL310, ATC asked how long would it take to climb to FL350. I informed him it would take 3 mins. We were given a 20 degrees vector to the right and instructed to climb to FL350. During this part of the climb, we were still IMC and approaching another cell. I decided to inform the passenger of why our beverage service was being delayed and to remind the flight attendants to remain seated. As I returned to the ATC frequency, my first officer was confirming with ATC that we were at FL350. That's when I realized that both our altimeters were still set at 30.27. I reset the altimeter to 29.92 and informed ATC we were still climbing out of FL347. Contributing factors to this situation were: 1) tunnel vision on WX avoidance. 2) breakdown in standard crew callouts. 3) both pilots concentrating on the WX radar at the same time. 4) timing of flight attendant's advisories. Supplemental information from acn 590568: ATC asked us to be level in 10 seconds. I replied 'we are there now.' he said 'ok.' at this time captain was returning to #1 radio and also realizing we had 30.27 still on the altimeter. We climbed up quickly and never received a TA or an RA. The rest of the flight was normal.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ALT UNDERSHOOT DURING CLB TO CRUISE AT FL350 BY A B737 FLT CREW WHEN THEIR ALTIMETERS WERE STILL SET ON QNH ON CLBOUT FROM ABQ, NM.

Narrative: THIS WAS THE SECOND DAY OF A 3-DAY PAIRING. IT WAS OUR FIRST FLT OF THE DAY, FO'S LEG. TAXI, TKOF AND INITIAL CLB WERE NORMAL. AS WE CLBED THROUGH 16000 FT, WE WERE IMC AND NAVING AROUND A LARGE BUILDUP. I DECIDED TO INFORM THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO REMAIN SEATED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. IT WAS DURING THIS PORTION OF THE CLB THAT WE MISSED THE FL180 CALL. AT FL310, ATC ASKED HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO CLB TO FL350. I INFORMED HIM IT WOULD TAKE 3 MINS. WE WERE GIVEN A 20 DEGS VECTOR TO THE R AND INSTRUCTED TO CLB TO FL350. DURING THIS PART OF THE CLB, WE WERE STILL IMC AND APCHING ANOTHER CELL. I DECIDED TO INFORM THE PAX OF WHY OUR BEVERAGE SVC WAS BEING DELAYED AND TO REMIND THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO REMAIN SEATED. AS I RETURNED TO THE ATC FREQ, MY FO WAS CONFIRMING WITH ATC THAT WE WERE AT FL350. THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED THAT BOTH OUR ALTIMETERS WERE STILL SET AT 30.27. I RESET THE ALTIMETER TO 29.92 AND INFORMED ATC WE WERE STILL CLBING OUT OF FL347. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THIS SIT WERE: 1) TUNNEL VISION ON WX AVOIDANCE. 2) BREAKDOWN IN STANDARD CREW CALLOUTS. 3) BOTH PLTS CONCENTRATING ON THE WX RADAR AT THE SAME TIME. 4) TIMING OF FLT ATTENDANT'S ADVISORIES. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 590568: ATC ASKED US TO BE LEVEL IN 10 SECONDS. I REPLIED 'WE ARE THERE NOW.' HE SAID 'OK.' AT THIS TIME CAPT WAS RETURNING TO #1 RADIO AND ALSO REALIZING WE HAD 30.27 STILL ON THE ALTIMETER. WE CLBED UP QUICKLY AND NEVER RECEIVED A TA OR AN RA. THE REST OF THE FLT WAS NORMAL.

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.