Wrong altimeter setting creates a level off lower than planned.

Attributes
ACN	300760
Time
Date	199503
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lvz
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 5700
ASRS Report	300760
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 14850 flight time type : 5700
ASRS Report	300044
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented 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:

I was getting the ATIS when PF set altimeter of 30.76 instead of 29.76. He leveled off at 12000 ft on his altitude, when in fact we were at 11000 ft. We caught it about 15 seconds after we leveled off as I reported level with ATC. We immediately adjusted the altimeter to 29.76 and climbed back to the correct altitude. One of us was out of the loop just for a few mins and that was enough to miss the incorrect altitude setting. Supplemental information from acn 300044: ATC caught it and I climbed back to 12000 ft after setting the correct altimeter.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WRONG ALTIMETER SETTING CREATES A LEVEL OFF LOWER THAN PLANNED.

Narrative: I WAS GETTING THE ATIS WHEN PF SET ALTIMETER OF 30.76 INSTEAD OF 29.76. HE LEVELED OFF AT 12000 FT ON HIS ALT, WHEN IN FACT WE WERE AT 11000 FT. WE CAUGHT IT ABOUT 15 SECONDS AFTER WE LEVELED OFF AS I RPTED LEVEL WITH ATC. WE IMMEDIATELY ADJUSTED THE ALTIMETER TO 29.76 AND CLBED BACK TO THE CORRECT ALT. ONE OF US WAS OUT OF THE LOOP JUST FOR A FEW MINS AND THAT WAS ENOUGH TO MISS THE INCORRECT ALT SETTING. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 300044: ATC CAUGHT IT AND I CLBED BACK TO 12000 FT AFTER SETTING THE CORRECT ALTIMETER.

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.