Flight crew of medium large transport on descent into ind misset their altimeter.

Attributes
ACN	170508
Time
Date	199102
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ind
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3200 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ind
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors enroute airway : ind
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	170508
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
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:

On right downwind to 23R at ind, aircraft was cleared to 4000 from 7000' MSL. Approaching 4000' approach gave a heading to intercept final, then requested our altitude, to which (after x-chking altimeters) we replied 4000'. Controller stated he was indicating 3200' and advised us to turn off our mode C, which was accomplished. At that point we rechked altimeter settings (both) on 30.30--they should have been set on 29.30. The checklist having been accomplished correctly, the copilot incorrectly read 30.30 and I set it west/O having heard the ATIS myself, which correctly broadcast 29.30. The poor WX conditions should also have been a clue that 30.30 was too high; i.e., ragged ceiling, low temperature/dew point, etc. I started immediate climb back to 4000' which first officer checked ground clearance as ok. 4000' was not reached prior to intercepting G/south. Rest of approach and landing were normal. Lesson learned by me: independent ATIS listening.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF MLG ON DESCENT INTO IND MISSET THEIR ALTIMETER.

Narrative: ON RIGHT DOWNWIND TO 23R AT IND, ACFT WAS CLRED TO 4000 FROM 7000' MSL. APCHING 4000' APCH GAVE A HDG TO INTERCEPT FINAL, THEN REQUESTED OUR ALT, TO WHICH (AFTER X-CHKING ALTIMETERS) WE REPLIED 4000'. CTLR STATED HE WAS INDICATING 3200' AND ADVISED US TO TURN OFF OUR MODE C, WHICH WAS ACCOMPLISHED. AT THAT POINT WE RECHKED ALTIMETER SETTINGS (BOTH) ON 30.30--THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN SET ON 29.30. THE CHKLIST HAVING BEEN ACCOMPLISHED CORRECTLY, THE COPLT INCORRECTLY READ 30.30 AND I SET IT W/O HAVING HEARD THE ATIS MYSELF, WHICH CORRECTLY BROADCAST 29.30. THE POOR WX CONDITIONS SHOULD ALSO HAVE BEEN A CLUE THAT 30.30 WAS TOO HIGH; I.E., RAGGED CEILING, LOW TEMP/DEW POINT, ETC. I STARTED IMMEDIATE CLB BACK TO 4000' WHICH F/O CHKED GND CLRNC AS OK. 4000' WAS NOT REACHED PRIOR TO INTERCEPTING G/S. REST OF APCH AND LNDG WERE NORMAL. LESSON LEARNED BY ME: INDEPENDENT ATIS LISTENING.

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.