Narrative:

Descent clearance given by ATC with altimeter setting 28.86. PNF read back 29.86. ATC did not catch mistake. On in- range checklist, all 3 crew called 29.86 and set altimeters. During descent, ATC cleared us to 5000 ft, 3000 ft, and 1600 ft. Aircraft was always well above altitude cleared to when next lower altitude clearance was issued. We were cleared for a visual on downwind at 3000 ft indicated and turned base to descend to 1600 ft indicated (FAF altitude). Initially captain did not accept visual till approach gave us a turn onto base leg. This was inside OM to intercept final. Approaching final, we had a GS GPWS warning. First officer realized altimeter setting was wrong and maintained 1600 ft indicated till GS intercept. First officer noted radar altimeter was at 700 ft at GS warning point. Note: this approach is over water (sea level). On rollout, so noted altimeter was set 29.86 and should be 28.86 so we were 1000 ft lower than indicated during descent and approach. So had 28.86 on the bug card. Crew missed this on 'in range' and 'approach' checklist. Also, ATC should always call 'low' when setting is below 29.00 inches. Now they do so sometimes.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WDB CARGO ACFT DSNDS TO WITHIN 600 FT OF THE WATER WHEN ALTIMETERS ARE MISSET BY AN INCH.

Narrative: DSCNT CLRNC GIVEN BY ATC WITH ALTIMETER SETTING 28.86. PNF READ BACK 29.86. ATC DID NOT CATCH MISTAKE. ON IN- RANGE CHKLIST, ALL 3 CREW CALLED 29.86 AND SET ALTIMETERS. DURING DSCNT, ATC CLRED US TO 5000 FT, 3000 FT, AND 1600 FT. ACFT WAS ALWAYS WELL ABOVE ALT CLRED TO WHEN NEXT LOWER ALT CLRNC WAS ISSUED. WE WERE CLRED FOR A VISUAL ON DOWNWIND AT 3000 FT INDICATED AND TURNED BASE TO DSND TO 1600 FT INDICATED (FAF ALT). INITIALLY CAPT DID NOT ACCEPT VISUAL TILL APCH GAVE US A TURN ONTO BASE LEG. THIS WAS INSIDE OM TO INTERCEPT FINAL. APCHING FINAL, WE HAD A GS GPWS WARNING. FO REALIZED ALTIMETER SETTING WAS WRONG AND MAINTAINED 1600 FT INDICATED TILL GS INTERCEPT. FO NOTED RADAR ALTIMETER WAS AT 700 FT AT GS WARNING POINT. NOTE: THIS APCH IS OVER WATER (SEA LEVEL). ON ROLLOUT, SO NOTED ALTIMETER WAS SET 29.86 AND SHOULD BE 28.86 SO WE WERE 1000 FT LOWER THAN INDICATED DURING DSCNT AND APCH. SO HAD 28.86 ON THE BUG CARD. CREW MISSED THIS ON 'IN RANGE' AND 'APCH' CHKLIST. ALSO, ATC SHOULD ALWAYS CALL 'LOW' WHEN SETTING IS BELOW 29.00 INCHES. NOW THEY DO SO SOMETIMES.

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.