Flight crew of small transport misread their clearance. Flew V438 versus cleared V436.

Attributes
ACN	116946
Time
Date	198907
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tka
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v438
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	116947
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Center apparently gave clearance to anc via V436 after request for hard altitude at 11,000. Previously had been cleared 'VFR on top' 11,500 direct anc. In initial request we asked for V438 anc or direct. Pilot copied final clearance as V438 and intercepted that airway. Problem was noted when center asked if we had been cleared V436 and I responded with 'negative V438'. Center then gave us a vector for arrival gate at anc. Problem could be greatly reduced by not having 2 airways with similar numbers so close (parallel) together and with same destination.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF SMT MISREAD THEIR CLRNC. FLEW V438 VERSUS CLEARED V436.

Narrative: CENTER APPARENTLY GAVE CLRNC TO ANC VIA V436 AFTER REQUEST FOR HARD ALT AT 11,000. PREVIOUSLY HAD BEEN CLRED 'VFR ON TOP' 11,500 DIRECT ANC. IN INITIAL REQUEST WE ASKED FOR V438 ANC OR DIRECT. PLT COPIED FINAL CLRNC AS V438 AND INTERCEPTED THAT AIRWAY. PROBLEM WAS NOTED WHEN CENTER ASKED IF WE HAD BEEN CLRED V436 AND I RESPONDED WITH 'NEGATIVE V438'. CENTER THEN GAVE US A VECTOR FOR ARR GATE AT ANC. PROBLEM COULD BE GREATLY REDUCED BY NOT HAVING 2 AIRWAYS WITH SIMILAR NUMBERS SO CLOSE (PARALLEL) TOGETHER AND WITH SAME DEST.

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.