Narrative:

We were on our way from anc heading direct for cushi intersection which is on the jnu lda/rnp approach. With visibility of 1 1/2 mi we were anticipating an rnp approach for runway 8. While descending out of FL200 anc ATC informed us that the current visibility in jnu was now 1/4 mi and gave us holding instructions at cushi at 10000 ft. The current altimeter setting for jnu was 29.18 MB. I was the PF. Somewhere among the disbelief that the WX dropped that fast, building the hold, talking to company and the flight attendants we missed our normal FL180 approach check. We did manage to get 3 of our 4 altimeters set correctly. Of course I was using the #1 altimeter and it wasn't until ATC called our altitude 400 ft low that we discovered our error. We made an immediate altimeter and altitude correction. There was never a conflict with any other aircraft or terrain. In the future I will tend to the most important matter first, 'fly the airplane' before administrative duties and watch out for the 'denial factor.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HOLDING AT CUSHI FOR AN APCH TO JNU, AK, AN ACR IS 400 FT BELOW THE ASSIGNED ALT. THE ALTIMETER OF THE PF WAS NOT SET TO QNH PASSING FL180.

Narrative: WE WERE ON OUR WAY FROM ANC HEADING DIRECT FOR CUSHI INTXN WHICH IS ON THE JNU LDA/RNP APCH. WITH VISIBILITY OF 1 1/2 MI WE WERE ANTICIPATING AN RNP APCH FOR RWY 8. WHILE DSNDING OUT OF FL200 ANC ATC INFORMED US THAT THE CURRENT VISIBILITY IN JNU WAS NOW 1/4 MI AND GAVE US HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS AT CUSHI AT 10000 FT. THE CURRENT ALTIMETER SETTING FOR JNU WAS 29.18 MB. I WAS THE PF. SOMEWHERE AMONG THE DISBELIEF THAT THE WX DROPPED THAT FAST, BUILDING THE HOLD, TALKING TO COMPANY AND THE FLT ATTENDANTS WE MISSED OUR NORMAL FL180 APCH CHK. WE DID MANAGE TO GET 3 OF OUR 4 ALTIMETERS SET CORRECTLY. OF COURSE I WAS USING THE #1 ALTIMETER AND IT WASN'T UNTIL ATC CALLED OUR ALT 400 FT LOW THAT WE DISCOVERED OUR ERROR. WE MADE AN IMMEDIATE ALTIMETER AND ALT CORRECTION. THERE WAS NEVER A CONFLICT WITH ANY OTHER ACFT OR TERRAIN. IN THE FUTURE I WILL TEND TO THE MOST IMPORTANT MATTER FIRST, 'FLY THE AIRPLANE' BEFORE ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES AND WATCH OUT FOR THE 'DENIAL FACTOR.'

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.