Narrative:

In 3/89, at approximately am EST, life guard was given a clearance: caf direct ahn rh 280 degrees, 2000', XXXX. The altimeter was given 30.31. Apparently I set in 30.13, for when airborne was told to climb to 4000', which I did. In a few mins ags departure controller asked me what my altitude was, and I told him 4000'. He said, 'your mode C indicates 4400'.' I asked for the current altimeter setting and was given 30.31. I set in that number and stated over the radio that I had set in the wrong altimeter setting and that I was out of 4400' for 4000', since I was IMC at that time! I do not think any evasive action had to be taken by any other traffic nor by the ATC controller. The factors that I feel contributed to this situation were: 1) trying to hurry items in order to get the life guard flight underway, and 2) not fully writing down all departure information. I would write it down in a normal situation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION, WRONG ALTIMETER SETTING.

Narrative: IN 3/89, AT APPROX AM EST, LIFE GUARD WAS GIVEN A CLRNC: CAF DIRECT AHN RH 280 DEGS, 2000', XXXX. THE ALTIMETER WAS GIVEN 30.31. APPARENTLY I SET IN 30.13, FOR WHEN AIRBORNE WAS TOLD TO CLB TO 4000', WHICH I DID. IN A FEW MINS AGS DEP CTLR ASKED ME WHAT MY ALT WAS, AND I TOLD HIM 4000'. HE SAID, 'YOUR MODE C INDICATES 4400'.' I ASKED FOR THE CURRENT ALTIMETER SETTING AND WAS GIVEN 30.31. I SET IN THAT NUMBER AND STATED OVER THE RADIO THAT I HAD SET IN THE WRONG ALTIMETER SETTING AND THAT I WAS OUT OF 4400' FOR 4000', SINCE I WAS IMC AT THAT TIME! I DO NOT THINK ANY EVASIVE ACTION HAD TO BE TAKEN BY ANY OTHER TFC NOR BY THE ATC CTLR. THE FACTORS THAT I FEEL CONTRIBUTED TO THIS SITUATION WERE: 1) TRYING TO HURRY ITEMS IN ORDER TO GET THE LIFE GUARD FLT UNDERWAY, AND 2) NOT FULLY WRITING DOWN ALL DEP INFO. I WOULD WRITE IT DOWN IN A NORMAL SITUATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.