<< >> NASA ASRS Report 430060, March 1999

A B757-200 descending on a STAR arrival overshoots its assigned altitude when the crew forgets to set the altimeter to a local setting.

Attributes
ACN	430060
Time
Date	199903
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11600 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Ice
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : den.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : holding descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : spica two
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	430060
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : private pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time total : 13000
ASRS Report	430061
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : mode c other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were on the spica 2 STAR into dtw on the descent. We received a hold at spica. During this busy phase we forgot to reset our altimeters at FL180. We leveled at 12000 ft. ATC gave us the altimeter setting. We changed our setting and we were 400 ft low. No other action was taken. Supplemental information from acn 430061: we were probably coming through FL200, probably +/-20 mi from spica, when issued holding pattern. We both got so busy inserting the last min holding pattern, we forgot to reset our altimeters. Our expect further clearance was such, that fuel was a concern, dispatched needed to be contacted, and making sure aircraft is programmed and flying correct pattern distraction me. A good lesson for the controllers to hear and for us to be more vigilant.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757-200 DSNDING ON A STAR ARR OVERSHOOTS ITS ASSIGNED ALT WHEN THE CREW FORGETS TO SET THE ALTIMETER TO A LCL SETTING.

Narrative: WE WERE ON THE SPICA 2 STAR INTO DTW ON THE DSCNT. WE RECEIVED A HOLD AT SPICA. DURING THIS BUSY PHASE WE FORGOT TO RESET OUR ALTIMETERS AT FL180. WE LEVELED AT 12000 FT. ATC GAVE US THE ALTIMETER SETTING. WE CHANGED OUR SETTING AND WE WERE 400 FT LOW. NO OTHER ACTION WAS TAKEN. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 430061: WE WERE PROBABLY COMING THROUGH FL200, PROBABLY +/-20 MI FROM SPICA, WHEN ISSUED HOLDING PATTERN. WE BOTH GOT SO BUSY INSERTING THE LAST MIN HOLDING PATTERN, WE FORGOT TO RESET OUR ALTIMETERS. OUR EXPECT FURTHER CLRNC WAS SUCH, THAT FUEL WAS A CONCERN, DISPATCHED NEEDED TO BE CONTACTED, AND MAKING SURE ACFT IS PROGRAMMED AND FLYING CORRECT PATTERN DISTR ME. A GOOD LESSON FOR THE CTLRS TO HEAR AND FOR US TO BE MORE VIGILANT.

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.