ALTDEV. WRONG ALTIMETER SETTING.

Narrative

THIS FLT WAS AN IFR FLT FROM SWO TO MHK. SWO WAS VFR 1500 FT OVCST 10 MI VISIBILITY AS I TAXIED OUT TO TKOF. I TRIED REPEATEDLY; BUT UNSUCCESSFULLY; TO CONTACT THE MLC FSS OR ZKC FOR MY CLRNC. DURING MY RUN-UP AND CHKLIST; I SET THE FIELD ELEVATION 986 FT ON THE ALTIMETER. I DEPARTED VFR; CONTACTED ZKC AND RECEIVED MY CLRNC; AND CLBED THROUGH THE OVCST TO 6000 FT. IN THE CLB I ENCOUNTERED ICING CONDITIONS AND WITH MY CONCERN OF THE ICING I MUST HAVE MIS-SET THE ALTIMETER. A FRONTAL PASSAGE WAS IN PROGRESS AND BAROMETER WAS CHANGING RAPIDLY. MY XPONDER AND ALT DID NOT AGREE; SO THE CTR TOLD ME TO STOP ALT SQUAWK; AND I WOULD BE TRACKED AS A PRIMARY TARGET. BOTH THE CTR AND I CONCLUDED THE XPONDER WAS FAULTY. I WAS THEN CLRED TO 8000 FT AS REQUESTED TO CONTINUE TO STAY OUT OF ICING CONDITIONS. I WAS TROUBLED BY THE XPONDER; SO I ASKED THE NEXT SECTOR TO CHK MY ALT READOUT AGAIN (MKC 120.2). THEN I SUDDENLY WAS SURPRISED TO REALIZE I HAD SET MY ALTIMETER WRONG AT 30.82 INSTEAD OF 29.82. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE; MY XPONDER RPTED 7300 FT AND MY ALTIMETER 8000 FT. I TOLD THE CTR I SET MY ALTIMETER WRONG. AFTER THIS; THE FLT WAS NORMAL WITH AN APCH TO MHK. THE LETTER INCLUDED TO ME WAS ACCEPTED WITH GRATITUDE; AND I WILL FOLLOW HIS EXCELLENT SUGGESTIONS. I HATE MISTAKES IN THE COCKPIT; AND NOW MUST LEARN THIS LESSON; NEVER TO BE REPEATED. I KNOW THAT MY 29 YRS OF FLYING AND MY HRS IN THE AIR DO NOT GUARANTEE ANY RESULTS BUT ONLY PROVIDE EXPERIENCE TO HELP ONE TO MAINTAIN EXCELLENCE. MY AXIOM HAS BEEN 'STRIVE FOR PERFECTION BECAUSE ONE USUALLY GETS SOMETHING LESS.'