Narrative:

While in cruise flight at FL300 we were asked to verify level at FL300. As I checked both altimeters the PNF responded that we were level at FL300. Instantly it caught my attention that we forgot to set our altimeters to 29.92 at transition altitude FL180. I immediately took action to set my altimeter to standard and climbed the 400 ft to FL300. The PNF proceeded to set his altimeter and called ZKC back to relay what we had done and that we were correcting. She responded that it was not a problem. Factors that contributed to us missing our altimeter setting were: 1) we were in the 10TH hour of a long day of flying. Fatigue was playing a factor. 2) also lack of finishing the climb checklist which prompts us to set altimeters at FL180. After the PNF and I discussed what we did wrong and the factors that contributed to it; we came to the conclusion that no matter how long the day had been; we need to be diligent in using the checklist which would have kept us from making this mistake.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CE560 FLT CREW MISSED SETTING 29.92 CLBING THROUGH FL180. WHEN THEY LEVELED AT CRUISE ALT; ATC ADVISED THEY WERE 400 FT LOW.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE FLT AT FL300 WE WERE ASKED TO VERIFY LEVEL AT FL300. AS I CHKED BOTH ALTIMETERS THE PNF RESPONDED THAT WE WERE LEVEL AT FL300. INSTANTLY IT CAUGHT MY ATTN THAT WE FORGOT TO SET OUR ALTIMETERS TO 29.92 AT TRANSITION ALT FL180. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK ACTION TO SET MY ALTIMETER TO STANDARD AND CLBED THE 400 FT TO FL300. THE PNF PROCEEDED TO SET HIS ALTIMETER AND CALLED ZKC BACK TO RELAY WHAT WE HAD DONE AND THAT WE WERE CORRECTING. SHE RESPONDED THAT IT WAS NOT A PROB. FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO US MISSING OUR ALTIMETER SETTING WERE: 1) WE WERE IN THE 10TH HR OF A LONG DAY OF FLYING. FATIGUE WAS PLAYING A FACTOR. 2) ALSO LACK OF FINISHING THE CLB CHKLIST WHICH PROMPTS US TO SET ALTIMETERS AT FL180. AFTER THE PNF AND I DISCUSSED WHAT WE DID WRONG AND THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO IT; WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT NO MATTER HOW LONG THE DAY HAD BEEN; WE NEED TO BE DILIGENT IN USING THE CHKLIST WHICH WOULD HAVE KEPT US FROM MAKING THIS MISTAKE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.