 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Fgt pilot uses wrong altimeter setting, 1000 ft low. Levels off wrong altitude. Altitude deviation altitude overshot.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 218174 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199208 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : gvw |
| State Reference | MO |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 6500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : mci tower : ack |
| Operator | other |
| Make Model Name | Fighter |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : takeoff |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Operator | other |
| Make Model Name | Fighter |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : takeoff |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : military |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : military |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 |
| ASRS Report | 218174 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : military |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : military |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
After several minor maintenance problems, I was late taxiing my fgt to join my flight of 3 fgts taxiing for takeoff at R-6 air force base. 'Code 1' was the leader. I listened to ATIS and heard 29.87 as the altitude setting. I set .87 in the altimeter and pressed on. Unknown to me (and not noticed by me) was that someone had zeroed out the altimeter (QFE, I believe) so, when I set .87, I had 28.87 set. The needle pointed to near the 100 scale (elevation 1100) so at a quick glance it looked normal when in fact it was reading only 100 ft not 1100 ft. I took off as 'code 2,' joined up with the leader. He quickly aborted for an engine problem and gave me the lead. When I assumed the squawk, departure control asked what my altitude was. I said 5500 ft (really 6500 ft MSL). We had been cleared to only 6000 ft. Code 3 told me to check my altimeter and then I noticed the 28.87. Fortunately, I was VFR and not shooting any IFR approachs. Solution: if someone sets QFE, return altimeter to approximately field elevation. You can bet I check my setting more closely now, even if I'm in a hurry to get airborne.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: FGT PLT USES WRONG ALTIMETER SETTING, 1000 FT LOW. LEVELS OFF WRONG ALT. ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT.
Narrative: AFTER SEVERAL MINOR MAINT PROBLEMS, I WAS LATE TAXIING MY FGT TO JOIN MY FLT OF 3 FGTS TAXIING FOR TKOF AT R-6 AIR FORCE BASE. 'CODE 1' WAS THE LEADER. I LISTENED TO ATIS AND HEARD 29.87 AS THE ALT SETTING. I SET .87 IN THE ALTIMETER AND PRESSED ON. UNKNOWN TO ME (AND NOT NOTICED BY ME) WAS THAT SOMEONE HAD ZEROED OUT THE ALTIMETER (QFE, I BELIEVE) SO, WHEN I SET .87, I HAD 28.87 SET. THE NEEDLE POINTED TO NEAR THE 100 SCALE (ELEVATION 1100) SO AT A QUICK GLANCE IT LOOKED NORMAL WHEN IN FACT IT WAS READING ONLY 100 FT NOT 1100 FT. I TOOK OFF AS 'CODE 2,' JOINED UP WITH THE LEADER. HE QUICKLY ABORTED FOR AN ENG PROBLEM AND GAVE ME THE LEAD. WHEN I ASSUMED THE SQUAWK, DEP CTL ASKED WHAT MY ALT WAS. I SAID 5500 FT (REALLY 6500 FT MSL). WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO ONLY 6000 FT. CODE 3 TOLD ME TO CHK MY ALTIMETER AND THEN I NOTICED THE 28.87. FORTUNATELY, I WAS VFR AND NOT SHOOTING ANY IFR APCHS. SOLUTION: IF SOMEONE SETS QFE, RETURN ALTIMETER TO APPROX FIELD ELEVATION. YOU CAN BET I CHK MY SETTING MORE CLOSELY NOW, EVEN IF I'M IN A HURRY TO GET AIRBORNE.
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.