Air carrier medium large transport altitude deviation overshot during climb because the flight crew failed to set the altimeter to qnh for level off at FL180. Altitude error caused less than standard separation with crossing traffic at FL190.

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Attributes
ACN	197081
Time
Date	199112
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gso
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 18800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl tower : fsd
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 172 flight time total : 5640 flight time type : 530
ASRS Report	197081
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	197398
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : far
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While climbing out of gso aircraft was climbing through 17700 ft to level at FL180. Atlanta center advised altitude readout indicated 18500 ft. Crew responded 'leveling at FL180,' which was precisely what was happening. Crossing traffic was opposite direction which caused conflict alert to controller. Our aircraft was never above FL180 and as quickly as the conflict arose the controller advised of correct altitude FL180. Other aircraft observed us visually throughout the incident with no deviation. I suspect the ATC computer actually temporarily projected us above our altitude because of our high rate of climb to level off altitude and very high barometric pressure reading 30.75.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG ALTDEV OVERSHOT DURING CLB BECAUSE THE FLC FAILED TO SET THE ALTIMETER TO QNH FOR LEVEL OFF AT FL180. ALT ERROR CAUSED LTSS WITH XING TFC AT FL190.

Narrative: WHILE CLBING OUT OF GSO ACFT WAS CLBING THROUGH 17700 FT TO LEVEL AT FL180. ATLANTA CENTER ADVISED ALT READOUT INDICATED 18500 FT. CREW RESPONDED 'LEVELING AT FL180,' WHICH WAS PRECISELY WHAT WAS HAPPENING. XING TFC WAS OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHICH CAUSED CONFLICT ALERT TO CTLR. OUR ACFT WAS NEVER ABOVE FL180 AND AS QUICKLY AS THE CONFLICT AROSE THE CTLR ADVISED OF CORRECT ALT FL180. OTHER ACFT OBSERVED US VISUALLY THROUGHOUT THE INCIDENT WITH NO DEV. I SUSPECT THE ATC COMPUTER ACTUALLY TEMPORARILY PROJECTED US ABOVE OUR ALT BECAUSE OF OUR HIGH RATE OF CLB TO LEVEL OFF ALT AND VERY HIGH BAROMETRIC PRESSURE READING 30.75.

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.