B737-500 crew did not set qne at the transition level. As a result they leveled out 400 ft low.

Attributes
ACN	599304
Time
Date	200311
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : fwa.vortac
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-500
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 12900 flight time type : 220
ASRS Report	599304
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	599089
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : company policies non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

At FL290, ATC advised us that our altitude was 400 ft low. Looking at the captain's and first officer's altimeters, they were not set to 29.92, and had been left at the original ord altimeter setting. We selected 29.92 and corrected our altitude back to FL290. There were no further problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-500 CREW DID NOT SET QNE AT THE TRANSITION LEVEL. AS A RESULT THEY LEVELED OUT 400 FT LOW.

Narrative: AT FL290, ATC ADVISED US THAT OUR ALT WAS 400 FT LOW. LOOKING AT THE CAPT'S AND FO'S ALTIMETERS, THEY WERE NOT SET TO 29.92, AND HAD BEEN LEFT AT THE ORIGINAL ORD ALTIMETER SETTING. WE SELECTED 29.92 AND CORRECTED OUR ALT BACK TO FL290. THERE WERE NO FURTHER PROBS.

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.