A newly instrument rated pilot sets his altimeter incorrectly resulting in a 1000 ft error in his altitude until queried by ATC about his desired altitude.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	598238
Time
Date	200311
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atw.airport
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : grb.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 22 flight time total : 342 flight time type : 270
ASRS Report	598238
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar mode c other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On my first flight in IMC as an instrument rated pilot, I climbed to the assigned altitude and was cruising there for approximately 15 mins. ATC contacted me and queried me regarding my requested altitude and provided the current altimeter setting. Upon checking, I discovered that the altimeter setting was incorrect. I reset the altimeter and descended to the correct altitude. I know that I adjusted the altimeter during the ground check, but I believe that I set only the last 2 digits of the setting correctly. I believe that I set 29.29 instead of 30.29. I failed to confirm field elevation on the altimeter and the elevation displayed by the transponder. Contributing factors include anxiety regarding the first flight into IMC, and a high pressure system that moved into the area. The altimeter setting from 3 days earlier was 29.43. To prevent this error in the future, I am going to augment my checklist to include the specific task of verifying the field elevation instead of the general task 'flight instruments -- check and set.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A NEWLY INST RATED PLT SETS HIS ALTIMETER INCORRECTLY RESULTING IN A 1000 FT ERROR IN HIS ALT UNTIL QUERIED BY ATC ABOUT HIS DESIRED ALT.

Narrative: ON MY FIRST FLT IN IMC AS AN INST RATED PLT, I CLBED TO THE ASSIGNED ALT AND WAS CRUISING THERE FOR APPROX 15 MINS. ATC CONTACTED ME AND QUERIED ME REGARDING MY REQUESTED ALT AND PROVIDED THE CURRENT ALTIMETER SETTING. UPON CHKING, I DISCOVERED THAT THE ALTIMETER SETTING WAS INCORRECT. I RESET THE ALTIMETER AND DSNDED TO THE CORRECT ALT. I KNOW THAT I ADJUSTED THE ALTIMETER DURING THE GND CHK, BUT I BELIEVE THAT I SET ONLY THE LAST 2 DIGITS OF THE SETTING CORRECTLY. I BELIEVE THAT I SET 29.29 INSTEAD OF 30.29. I FAILED TO CONFIRM FIELD ELEVATION ON THE ALTIMETER AND THE ELEVATION DISPLAYED BY THE XPONDER. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDE ANXIETY REGARDING THE FIRST FLT INTO IMC, AND A HIGH PRESSURE SYS THAT MOVED INTO THE AREA. THE ALTIMETER SETTING FROM 3 DAYS EARLIER WAS 29.43. TO PREVENT THIS ERROR IN THE FUTURE, I AM GOING TO AUGMENT MY CHKLIST TO INCLUDE THE SPECIFIC TASK OF VERIFYING THE FIELD ELEVATION INSTEAD OF THE GENERAL TASK 'FLT INSTS -- CHK AND SET.'

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.