Pilot complied with instructions for another aircraft with a similar call sign.

Attributes
ACN	117536
Time
Date	198907
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : syr
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : syr
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	117536
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On final approach VOR runway 33 to N00. Syr controller issued left turn heading 270 degree, 2000' altitude which we mistakenly complied with because of identification similarity. We XX123, another aircraft XY123. There was no conflict with aircraft or terrain. Controller recognized error and advised both aircraft of identification number similarity. We were then vectored back to final approach course. Both student and myself thought we had acted properly, and possibly the approach controller had erred. However, I know that I could and should have queried the controller. The 270 degree heading was read back to ATC, but our error was not noticed at that time. No aircraft conflict.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT COMPLIED WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR ANOTHER ACFT WITH A SIMILAR CALL SIGN.

Narrative: ON FINAL APCH VOR RWY 33 TO N00. SYR CTLR ISSUED LEFT TURN HDG 270 DEG, 2000' ALT WHICH WE MISTAKENLY COMPLIED WITH BECAUSE OF ID SIMILARITY. WE XX123, ANOTHER ACFT XY123. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH ACFT OR TERRAIN. CTLR RECOGNIZED ERROR AND ADVISED BOTH ACFT OF ID NUMBER SIMILARITY. WE WERE THEN VECTORED BACK TO FINAL APCH COURSE. BOTH STUDENT AND MYSELF THOUGHT WE HAD ACTED PROPERLY, AND POSSIBLY THE APCH CTLR HAD ERRED. HOWEVER, I KNOW THAT I COULD AND SHOULD HAVE QUERIED THE CTLR. THE 270 DEG HDG WAS READ BACK TO ATC, BUT OUR ERROR WAS NOT NOTICED AT THAT TIME. NO ACFT CONFLICT.

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.