Altitude deviation, wrong altimeter setting.

Attributes
ACN	107007
Time
Date	198903
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ags
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4400
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ags
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 7100
ASRS Report	107007
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

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.

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.