Flight crew of a B757 forgot to reset their altimeter during climb, passing FL180, causing a 300 ft ...

Attributes
ACN	423079
Time
Date	199812
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : air
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27700 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : zob
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	423079
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Center advised we were showing 300 ft low. Altimeters were still set at 30.27 vice 29.92. We were initially cleared to 17000 ft. Subsequently we received clearance to FL230, along with vectors for traffic and routing. Eventually cleared to FL280. During the lower altitude climbs -- bottom line -- the climb checklist (which resets altimeters) was not accomplished. For my part, I missed it because my habit pattern of holding the checklist card in my hand until the climb checklist is accomplished was broken. I put it away to assist in copying instructions, etc, during the high workload departure. In the future, if I put it down, I will put it where it is a 'nuisance' until I complete it. This incident impressed upon me the value of, and inherent risks, associated with 'habit patterns.' it was a valuable lesson learned. Fortunately, the altimeter difference (30.27 vice 29.92) only resulted in a 300 ft deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A B757 FORGOT TO RESET THEIR ALTIMETER DURING CLB, PASSING FL180, CAUSING A 300 FT UNDERSHOOT AT CRUISE ALT. ARTCC RADAR CTLR INTERVENED AND ADVISED OF LOW INDICATED ALT.

Narrative: CTR ADVISED WE WERE SHOWING 300 FT LOW. ALTIMETERS WERE STILL SET AT 30.27 VICE 29.92. WE WERE INITIALLY CLRED TO 17000 FT. SUBSEQUENTLY WE RECEIVED CLRNC TO FL230, ALONG WITH VECTORS FOR TFC AND ROUTING. EVENTUALLY CLRED TO FL280. DURING THE LOWER ALT CLBS -- BOTTOM LINE -- THE CLB CHKLIST (WHICH RESETS ALTIMETERS) WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED. FOR MY PART, I MISSED IT BECAUSE MY HABIT PATTERN OF HOLDING THE CHKLIST CARD IN MY HAND UNTIL THE CLB CHKLIST IS ACCOMPLISHED WAS BROKEN. I PUT IT AWAY TO ASSIST IN COPYING INSTRUCTIONS, ETC, DURING THE HIGH WORKLOAD DEP. IN THE FUTURE, IF I PUT IT DOWN, I WILL PUT IT WHERE IT IS A 'NUISANCE' UNTIL I COMPLETE IT. THIS INCIDENT IMPRESSED UPON ME THE VALUE OF, AND INHERENT RISKS, ASSOCIATED WITH 'HABIT PATTERNS.' IT WAS A VALUABLE LESSON LEARNED. FORTUNATELY, THE ALTIMETER DIFFERENCE (30.27 VICE 29.92) ONLY RESULTED IN A 300 FT DEV.

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.

Flight crew of a B757 forgot to reset their altimeter during climb, passing FL180, causing a 300 ft undershoot at cruise altitude. ARTCC radar controller intervened and advised of low indicated altitude.