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An MD80 descending to 3500 ft for approach into ind received an erroneous altimeter setting from approach control as 30 pt 47. The actual altimeter was 29 pt 47. The aircraft descended to 2500 ft before the controller questioned their altitude.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 361628 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199702 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : ind |
| State Reference | IN |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3500 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : ind |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | Other |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 355 |
| ASRS Report | 361628 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
Captain was flying. I listened to ATIS and altimeter setting was given as 30.37 inches. Preliminary landing checklist accomplished and altimeters set to 30.37. Center controller turned us over to approach controller during descent to 4000 ft. Controller gave altimeter setting as 30.47. Both captain and I heard this setting and changed altimeter to 30.47. Cleared to 3000 ft and while descending through 3500 ft we both remarked that ground appeared closer than 3500 ft. At that time controller asked our altitude, we reported 3500 ft. He told us altimeter setting 29.47 inches. Stopped descent immediately and set altimeter to 29.47. ATIS still reporting 30.37 inches approach continued uneventful. What do you do if altimeter on ATIS and controller given incorrectly? Conditions VMC, so we were able to see ground, which appeared closer than our altitude. Situational awareness is so important at all times.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN MD80 DSNDING TO 3500 FT FOR APCH INTO IND RECEIVED AN ERRONEOUS ALTIMETER SETTING FROM APCH CTL AS 30 PT 47. THE ACTUAL ALTIMETER WAS 29 PT 47. THE ACFT DSNDED TO 2500 FT BEFORE THE CTLR QUESTIONED THEIR ALT.
Narrative: CAPT WAS FLYING. I LISTENED TO ATIS AND ALTIMETER SETTING WAS GIVEN AS 30.37 INCHES. PRELIMINARY LNDG CHKLIST ACCOMPLISHED AND ALTIMETERS SET TO 30.37. CTR CTLR TURNED US OVER TO APCH CTLR DURING DSCNT TO 4000 FT. CTLR GAVE ALTIMETER SETTING AS 30.47. BOTH CAPT AND I HEARD THIS SETTING AND CHANGED ALTIMETER TO 30.47. CLRED TO 3000 FT AND WHILE DSNDING THROUGH 3500 FT WE BOTH REMARKED THAT GND APPEARED CLOSER THAN 3500 FT. AT THAT TIME CTLR ASKED OUR ALT, WE RPTED 3500 FT. HE TOLD US ALTIMETER SETTING 29.47 INCHES. STOPPED DSCNT IMMEDIATELY AND SET ALTIMETER TO 29.47. ATIS STILL RPTING 30.37 INCHES APCH CONTINUED UNEVENTFUL. WHAT DO YOU DO IF ALTIMETER ON ATIS AND CTLR GIVEN INCORRECTLY? CONDITIONS VMC, SO WE WERE ABLE TO SEE GND, WHICH APPEARED CLOSER THAN OUR ALT. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS IS SO IMPORTANT AT ALL TIMES.
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.