Narrative:

With the first officer flying the aircraft; we were given clearance to descend to 600 meters MSL while on the UM25B arrival to moscow (sheremetyevo). Both the relief pilot and myself (captain) confirmed a 2600 ft MSL altitude conversion. After intercepting final to runway 25R; the controller requested that we 'stop descent.' I noticed that we were level at 2000 ft MSL. After arrival at the gate; I asked the first officer about the discrepancy; and discovered that he had been using an expired altitude conversion chart with QFE altitudes below the transition level; instead of qnh altitudes as used on the new conversion chart; hence the 600 ft altitude deviation. I feel the primary causes of this deviation were the failure of the first officer flying the aircraft to use a current altitude conversion chart; and the failure of the captain and relief pilot to confirm the proper altitude had been set on the MCP. In addition; contributing factors were: 1) fatigue. 2) very poor english used by the ATC controller resulting in numerous repeats; and 3) meters to feet altitude conversion procedures used only in russia. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the crew was very tired and combined with the language barrier may have produced a misunderstanding as to whether QFE or qnh was being used for the altimeter setting.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT CREW MAKES ERRORS CONVERTING METERS TO FEET AND DESCENDS BELOW ASSIGNED ALTITUDE DURING APPROACH TO MOSCOW'S SHEREMETYEVO AIRPORT.

Narrative: WITH THE FO FLYING THE ACFT; WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO DSND TO 600 METERS MSL WHILE ON THE UM25B ARR TO MOSCOW (SHEREMETYEVO). BOTH THE RELIEF PLT AND MYSELF (CAPT) CONFIRMED A 2600 FT MSL ALT CONVERSION. AFTER INTERCEPTING FINAL TO RWY 25R; THE CTLR REQUESTED THAT WE 'STOP DSCNT.' I NOTICED THAT WE WERE LEVEL AT 2000 FT MSL. AFTER ARR AT THE GATE; I ASKED THE FO ABOUT THE DISCREPANCY; AND DISCOVERED THAT HE HAD BEEN USING AN EXPIRED ALT CONVERSION CHART WITH QFE ALTS BELOW THE TRANSITION LEVEL; INSTEAD OF QNH ALTS AS USED ON THE NEW CONVERSION CHART; HENCE THE 600 FT ALTDEV. I FEEL THE PRIMARY CAUSES OF THIS DEV WERE THE FAILURE OF THE FO FLYING THE ACFT TO USE A CURRENT ALT CONVERSION CHART; AND THE FAILURE OF THE CAPT AND RELIEF PLT TO CONFIRM THE PROPER ALT HAD BEEN SET ON THE MCP. IN ADDITION; CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: 1) FATIGUE. 2) VERY POOR ENGLISH USED BY THE ATC CTLR RESULTING IN NUMEROUS REPEATS; AND 3) METERS TO FEET ALT CONVERSION PROCS USED ONLY IN RUSSIA. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE CREW WAS VERY TIRED AND COMBINED WITH THE LANGUAGE BARRIER MAY HAVE PRODUCED A MISUNDERSTANDING AS TO WHETHER QFE OR QNH WAS BEING USED FOR THE ALTIMETER SETTING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.