Super King Air 200
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 90; Flight Crew Total 4900; Flight Crew Type 140
Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
During descent from cruise altitude of FL260; weather was picked up and the Captain heard the altimeter setting of 30.61. Once passing FL180 Captain set altimeter to 30.61 and commented to the copilot about the very high pressure setting. Co-pilot acknowledged the same and the descent continued. ATC never gave a local altimeter during the descent; and never mentioned discrepancy until we leveled at 10;000; then told us to maintain 10;000; while once again not stating the altimeter setting. We acknowledged with level at 10;000 again no mention of an altimeter setting. The co-pilot then got the field in sight and we were cleared for the visual; the co-pilot switched to CTAF; and I queried ATC if my altitude was showing what it should? About then I noticed the co-pilot's altimeter was 1;000 FT below mine set at 29.61. ATC said that we had been up to 600 FT off at the last 3 level offs. Everything turned out normal but there was definitely a break down between the 2 pilots and ATC in that the obvious was never stated; and the altimeter be given and or cross checked between pilots there was a verbal cross check but obviously not a visual cross check.
BE200 Captain reports incorrectly hearing and setting his altimeter during descent; although the Copilot's altimeter was set correctly. This was not detected by ATC or either pilot through three level offs. After being cleared for a visual approach the discrepancy was detected.