Narrative:

We experienced a pilots worst nightmare. The wrong altimeter setting. We set the reported 998 MB into our altimeters as 29.98'. The result was a 500' error in let down, approach and landing. We discovered the error on taxi into the gate. Because we saw the runway and landed visually using an ILS with GS we didn't become aware of the discrepancy until taxi in. Part of the problem was language. While they do speak english, their accent and emphasis on different syllables adds to the confussion. Additionally we are working in the back side of the clock which, even for a well rested crew, coupled with a 9:00 hour flight puts us in a vulnerable state. One additional factor which helped to reinforce our error was our readback to approach the altimeter setting of 29.98. Had they been alert to our mistake it might not have occurred. Again, they are working on the back side of the clock also. All told, 4 people were part of the problem. The solution? First off, be alert and question all inputs. Additionally: the united states aviation community can go to the metric system like the rest of the world; also all altimeter settings should be rted and repeated back as 'inches, MB or hpa.'

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB SET ALTIMETER TO AN INCHES VALUE INSTEAD OF THE MILLIBAR VALUE USED IN AKL.

Narrative: WE EXPERIENCED A PLTS WORST NIGHTMARE. THE WRONG ALTIMETER SETTING. WE SET THE RPTED 998 MB INTO OUR ALTIMETERS AS 29.98'. THE RESULT WAS A 500' ERROR IN LET DOWN, APCH AND LNDG. WE DISCOVERED THE ERROR ON TAXI INTO THE GATE. BECAUSE WE SAW THE RWY AND LANDED VISUALLY USING AN ILS WITH GS WE DIDN'T BECOME AWARE OF THE DISCREPANCY UNTIL TAXI IN. PART OF THE PROB WAS LANGUAGE. WHILE THEY DO SPEAK ENGLISH, THEIR ACCENT AND EMPHASIS ON DIFFERENT SYLLABLES ADDS TO THE CONFUSSION. ADDITIONALLY WE ARE WORKING IN THE BACK SIDE OF THE CLOCK WHICH, EVEN FOR A WELL RESTED CREW, COUPLED WITH A 9:00 HR FLT PUTS US IN A VULNERABLE STATE. ONE ADDITIONAL FACTOR WHICH HELPED TO REINFORCE OUR ERROR WAS OUR READBACK TO APCH THE ALTIMETER SETTING OF 29.98. HAD THEY BEEN ALERT TO OUR MISTAKE IT MIGHT NOT HAVE OCCURRED. AGAIN, THEY ARE WORKING ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE CLOCK ALSO. ALL TOLD, 4 PEOPLE WERE PART OF THE PROB. THE SOLUTION? FIRST OFF, BE ALERT AND QUESTION ALL INPUTS. ADDITIONALLY: THE UNITED STATES AVIATION COMMUNITY CAN GO TO THE METRIC SYS LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD; ALSO ALL ALTIMETER SETTINGS SHOULD BE RTED AND REPEATED BACK AS 'INCHES, MB OR HPA.'

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.