Failure to set the altimeter to qne passing FL180 during climb to cruise altitude results in a 600 f...

Attributes
ACN	599743
Time
Date	200311
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : gkn.vor
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31600
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zan.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-11
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 78 flight time total : 9300 flight time type : 78
ASRS Report	599743
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was in cruise flight at FL310, and I forgot to set the altimeters to 29.92 above FL180 and didn't realize it until ATC mentioned it to us. Our altimeter showed FL310, however, I simply forgot to change the altimeter above FL180 to 29.92. Therefore, our actual altitude was FL316. There was no conflict with other traffic. I had been doing a lot of flying in the international arena and was used to the transition altimeter being set at a much lower altitude. The only explanation I have is that I was having a senior moment. Once ATC brought it to our attention, we reset our altimeters to 29.92 and descended to FL310 without incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FAILURE TO SET THE ALTIMETER TO QNE PASSING FL180 DURING CLB TO CRUISE ALT RESULTS IN A 600 FT OVERSHOOT.

Narrative: I WAS IN CRUISE FLT AT FL310, AND I FORGOT TO SET THE ALTIMETERS TO 29.92 ABOVE FL180 AND DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL ATC MENTIONED IT TO US. OUR ALTIMETER SHOWED FL310, HOWEVER, I SIMPLY FORGOT TO CHANGE THE ALTIMETER ABOVE FL180 TO 29.92. THEREFORE, OUR ACTUAL ALT WAS FL316. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH OTHER TFC. I HAD BEEN DOING A LOT OF FLYING IN THE INTL ARENA AND WAS USED TO THE TRANSITION ALTIMETER BEING SET AT A MUCH LOWER ALT. THE ONLY EXPLANATION I HAVE IS THAT I WAS HAVING A SENIOR MOMENT. ONCE ATC BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTN, WE RESET OUR ALTIMETERS TO 29.92 AND DSNDED TO FL310 WITHOUT INCIDENT.

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.

Failure to set the altimeter to qne passing FL180 during climb to cruise altitude results in a 600 ft overshoot.