DC9 CREW WAS REQUIRED TO MAKE A RAPID DSCNT WHEN THE ACFT CABIN BEGAN TO CLB UNCTLABLY. THE CREW DID NOT MAKE THE APPROPRIATE ALTIMETER SETTING; AT THE TRANSITION ALT; WHILE MAKING THE DSCNT; RESULTING IN A LEVELOFF 300 FT LOW.

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ENRTE FROM MKE TO PHL; LARGE AREAS OF TSTMS. WE HAD TO DEVIATE CONSIDERABLY. SEVERAL MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES OCCURRED INFLT IN A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME PERIOD. 1) RAM AIR TEMP/EPR GAUGE BECAME INOP. 2) #2 RADIO KNOB BROKE LEAVING US WITH ONLY ONE. 3) WINDSHEAR DETECTION SYS FAILED. THEN THE CABIN PRESSURE STARTED CLBING SLOWLY WHILE IN CRUISE (ALT APPROX FL290). WE COMPLETED MEMORY ITEMS AND SOME TROUBLESHOOTING TO NO AVAIL. WE REQUESTED AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT TO A LOWER ALT. DUE TO TFC IN THE AREA; WE WERE HELD UP FOR 2-3 MINS WHILE THE CABIN WAS STILL CLBING. ATC THEN CLRED US TO 13000 FT. WE MADE AN EXPEDITIOUS DSCNT. DURING DSCNT THE CABIN BEGAN TO STABILIZE AND EVENTUALLY WORKED SUFFICIENTLY. UPON DSNDING THROUGH FL180; BOTH CREW MEMBERS FORGOT TO RESET THEIR ALTIMETERS TO 29.62 PUTTING US 300 FT LOW AT 13000 FT. I DON'T BELIEVE ANY CONFLICTS OCCURRED. THE REASON FOR THIS OMISSION WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY THE NUMEROUS DISTRS (MECHANICALS; WX; ETC); PRIMARILY THE CABIN ALT PROB. TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING AGAIN; I WILL CONCENTRATE ON SEVERAL THINGS DURING ANY ABNORMALITY OR EMER. 1) DELEGATE TASKS -- HAVE ONE PERSON FOCUS ON FLYING THE AIRPLANE WHILE THE OTHER TROUBLESHOOTS; ETC. STATE CLRLY WHO WILL BE DOING WHAT; IE; 'YOU TALK TO ATC; I'LL TALK TO THE FLT ATTENDANTS.' 'YOU FLY THE AIRPLANE; I'LL RUN THE CHKLIST.' 2) STRICT ADHERENCE TO COMPANY PROCS (ALT CALLOUTS; ETC) DURING ANY ABNORMALITY.