Flight crew of an large transport failed to reset the altimeter while climbing through FL180.

Attributes
ACN	319942
Time
Date	199510
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : buf
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 3900
ASRS Report	319942
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	other other : other pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	320050
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ATC called us and asked if we had the correct altimeter setting dialed in the altimeters. He said he was showing us 400 ft high. Upon checking the settings we discovered that we had indeed forgotten to set the altimeters to 29.92 in passing through 18000 ft due to a distraction in the cockpit between 16000 ft and 23000 ft. It is extremely important that the crew pay strict attention to the 18000 ft crossing, and not let anything distract their attention from this critical period.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN LGT FAILED TO RESET THE ALTIMETER WHILE CLBING THROUGH FL180.

Narrative: ATC CALLED US AND ASKED IF WE HAD THE CORRECT ALTIMETER SETTING DIALED IN THE ALTIMETERS. HE SAID HE WAS SHOWING US 400 FT HIGH. UPON CHKING THE SETTINGS WE DISCOVERED THAT WE HAD INDEED FORGOTTEN TO SET THE ALTIMETERS TO 29.92 IN PASSING THROUGH 18000 FT DUE TO A DISTR IN THE COCKPIT BTWN 16000 FT AND 23000 FT. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT THE CREW PAY STRICT ATTENTION TO THE 18000 FT XING, AND NOT LET ANYTHING DISTRACT THEIR ATTENTION FROM THIS CRITICAL PERIOD.

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.