PLT OF A CESSNA CORSAIR 425; C425; FAILED TO RESET ALTIMETER WHEN CLBING THROUGH FL180 RESULTING IN LEVELING OFF 500 FT LOW AT FL185 RATHER THAN ASSIGNED FL190. HE ALSO BELIEVED THAT HE FELT HUNG OVER FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE.

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WAS FLYING A FAMILY OF 5 AND 2 DOGS TO BOZEMAN; MT; FROM OAKLAND. FILED FOR FL190. WAS CLRED TO FL190 SOMEWHERE BEFORE SACRAMENTO. WAS ON 119.47 (ZOA). DID NOT CHANGE ALTIMETER FROM 30.54 TO 29.92 WHEN PASSING FL180. CTLR DIDN'T NOTICE. MAY HAVE THOUGHT I WAS STILL CLBING. HANDED OFF TO 127.95 TO CROSS SIERRAS. CTLR ASKED ME WHAT ALT I WAS ASSIGNED. I SAID 'FL190;' THEN REALIZED MY ERROR; SET MY ALTIMETER AND IT SAID FL185 WHEN SET TO 29.92! I PROMPTLY CLBED TO FL190 AND THE CTLR DIDN'T SEEM BOTHERED. I ALSO APOLOGIZED. THE FLT WENT FINE AFTER THAT; EXCEPT FOR A TEMPORARY INVERTER PROB. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 1) TRYING TO ENTERTAIN ONE OF THE KIDS WHO SAT IN THE R SEAT. 2) FOOD AND 1 GLASS OF WINE AND NOT ENOUGH SLEEP. THE WIND WAS 16 HRS EARLIER; BUT HAD AN EFFECT (AS I FOUND OUT) ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CABIN ALT CLBED. I'D SAY THE FOOD AND SLEEP IS THE MAIN FACTOR AND THAT INCLUDES THE WINE. I DRINK A TOTAL OF 2-3 BOTTLES A YR; SO I'M HARDLY A DRINKER. THIS WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AND VERY RICH RED WINE! I REALLY LEARNED HOW ALT CAN INTENSIFY WHAT SEEMS LIKE A MINOR HANGOVER.