Air carrier flight on altitude excursion.

Attributes
ACN	109089
Time
Date	198904
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mco
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	109089
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Company flight xyy departed mco. Departure control cleared us to 12000' on a northwest heading. The area had several thunderstorms, so we had to make turns we were restr to 250 KIAS. We switched to ZJX and called level 12000'. Center said, 'roger, cleared to 19000'.' he was extremely busy. I requested several times if we were to maintain the 250 KTS. I then heard a call which asked if company flight xyy was on frequency. I acknowledged yes and we were climbing to 19000'. The controller said he never gave us a different altitude. I advised him that we had acknowledged a clearance to 19000'. He then said we were cleared to 16000'. There was another company flight xyz on frequency which he cleared to 19000'. I am sure with the frequency congestion he had mistaken our call for company flight xyz. There was no apparent problem from this, however I am sure there could have been.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLT ON ALT EXCURSION.

Narrative: COMPANY FLT XYY DEPARTED MCO. DEP CTL CLRED US TO 12000' ON A NW HDG. THE AREA HAD SEVERAL TSTMS, SO WE HAD TO MAKE TURNS WE WERE RESTR TO 250 KIAS. WE SWITCHED TO ZJX AND CALLED LEVEL 12000'. CENTER SAID, 'ROGER, CLRED TO 19000'.' HE WAS EXTREMELY BUSY. I REQUESTED SEVERAL TIMES IF WE WERE TO MAINTAIN THE 250 KTS. I THEN HEARD A CALL WHICH ASKED IF COMPANY FLT XYY WAS ON FREQ. I ACKNOWLEDGED YES AND WE WERE CLBING TO 19000'. THE CTLR SAID HE NEVER GAVE US A DIFFERENT ALT. I ADVISED HIM THAT WE HAD ACKNOWLEDGED A CLRNC TO 19000'. HE THEN SAID WE WERE CLRED TO 16000'. THERE WAS ANOTHER COMPANY FLT XYZ ON FREQ WHICH HE CLRED TO 19000'. I AM SURE WITH THE FREQ CONGESTION HE HAD MISTAKEN OUR CALL FOR COMPANY FLT XYZ. THERE WAS NO APPARENT PROB FROM THIS, HOWEVER I AM SURE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.