Air carrier medium large transport altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude in response ...

Attributes
ACN	125927
Time
Date	198910
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sfo airport : sjc
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	125927
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation Operational Deviation

Narrative:

While descending for landing at sjc, bay approach (we thought) cleared us to 8000' from our last assigned altitude of 12000'. Our call sign was company ajeh. There was also a company ajee on the same frequency. I read back, 'company ajeh cleared to 8000',' and the copilot (PF) set and armed 8000' in the flight director and proceeded to descend as cleared. Mins later, bay approach asked us our altitude. I responded, 'passing through 9200', descending to 8000'.' bay said we were not cleared to 8000', that that clearance had been for company ajee. I responded that I had read back and acknowledged an 8000' clearance, but asked the controller what altitude he would like us to maintain. He responded, 'continue to 8000'.' just another 'similar call sign' communication problem, although both of us pilots clearly understood (we thought) that we had been cleared to 8000', and read back as cleared--and we both are sure this is on the tape.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG ALT DEVIATION EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT IN RESPONSE TO WRONG CALL SIGN.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING FOR LNDG AT SJC, BAY APCH (WE THOUGHT) CLRED US TO 8000' FROM OUR LAST ASSIGNED ALT OF 12000'. OUR CALL SIGN WAS COMPANY AJEH. THERE WAS ALSO A COMPANY AJEE ON THE SAME FREQ. I READ BACK, 'COMPANY AJEH CLRED TO 8000',' AND THE COPLT (PF) SET AND ARMED 8000' IN THE FLT DIRECTOR AND PROCEEDED TO DSND AS CLRED. MINS LATER, BAY APCH ASKED US OUR ALT. I RESPONDED, 'PASSING THROUGH 9200', DSNDING TO 8000'.' BAY SAID WE WERE NOT CLRED TO 8000', THAT THAT CLRNC HAD BEEN FOR COMPANY AJEE. I RESPONDED THAT I HAD READ BACK AND ACKNOWLEDGED AN 8000' CLRNC, BUT ASKED THE CTLR WHAT ALT HE WOULD LIKE US TO MAINTAIN. HE RESPONDED, 'CONTINUE TO 8000'.' JUST ANOTHER 'SIMILAR CALL SIGN' COM PROB, ALTHOUGH BOTH OF US PLTS CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD (WE THOUGHT) THAT WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO 8000', AND READ BACK AS CLRED--AND WE BOTH ARE SURE THIS IS ON THE TAPE.

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.

Air carrier medium large transport altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude in response to wrong call sign.