A C182 pilot departed sdf VFR with an incorrect transponder code.

Attributes
ACN	436100
Time
Date	199905
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lou.airport
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sdf.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	departure : vfr
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 400 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	436100
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Left bowman field VFR to north, then west around class C airspace. Approximately 10 mins after leaving, noticed that transponder was set to XXXX. Set transponder to 1200 and continued flight. Pilot was somewhat distraction by nervous passenger. Set transponder to altitude and confirmed with checklist, but missed the code.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 PLT DEPARTED SDF VFR WITH AN INCORRECT XPONDER CODE.

Narrative: LEFT BOWMAN FIELD VFR TO N, THEN W AROUND CLASS C AIRSPACE. APPROX 10 MINS AFTER LEAVING, NOTICED THAT XPONDER WAS SET TO XXXX. SET XPONDER TO 1200 AND CONTINUED FLT. PLT WAS SOMEWHAT DISTR BY NERVOUS PAX. SET XPONDER TO ALT AND CONFIRMED WITH CHKLIST, BUT MISSED THE CODE.

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.