Altitude deviation overshoot in climb. Call sign confusion and change to wrong frequency.

Attributes
ACN	128942
Time
Date	198911
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rzc
State Reference	AR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	128942
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight xx air carrier from stl to aus at xa 122 northeast of the rzc VOR. Climbing to 230 we had a frequency change to 132.6. We checked in on 132.6 and received clearance to 290. After the readback we climbed to 290. After a short time we requested a higher altitude. At that time we were told we were on the wrong frequency and had not been cleared to climb. We asked for the correct frequency and then changed to 132.65. We continued without event. At no time did we hear a controller indicate we were on the wrong frequency or challenge a readback. Equipment used: single head VHF radio. Captain used to dual head VHF. One volume control for both pilots. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter states that he answered radio transmission from ATC intended for another air carrier. He then proceeded to continue climb although the clearance was not intended for his aircraft. This event was further complicated by reporter recent transition to basic model of medium large transport after extensive experience in advanced model of this medium large transport. Cockpit confign definitely contributory.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOOT IN CLIMB. CALL SIGN CONFUSION AND CHANGE TO WRONG FREQ.

Narrative: FLT XX ACR FROM STL TO AUS AT XA 122 NE OF THE RZC VOR. CLIMBING TO 230 WE HAD A FREQ CHANGE TO 132.6. WE CHECKED IN ON 132.6 AND RECEIVED CLRNC TO 290. AFTER THE READBACK WE CLIMBED TO 290. AFTER A SHORT TIME WE REQUESTED A HIGHER ALT. AT THAT TIME WE WERE TOLD WE WERE ON THE WRONG FREQ AND HAD NOT BEEN CLRED TO CLIMB. WE ASKED FOR THE CORRECT FREQ AND THEN CHANGED TO 132.65. WE CONTINUED WITHOUT EVENT. AT NO TIME DID WE HEAR A CTLR INDICATE WE WERE ON THE WRONG FREQ OR CHALLENGE A READBACK. EQUIPMENT USED: SINGLE HEAD VHF RADIO. CAPT USED TO DUAL HEAD VHF. ONE VOLUME CONTROL FOR BOTH PLTS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: REPORTER STATES THAT HE ANSWERED RADIO XMISSION FROM ATC INTENDED FOR ANOTHER ACR. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO CONTINUE CLIMB ALTHOUGH THE CLRNC WAS NOT INTENDED FOR HIS ACFT. THIS EVENT WAS FURTHER COMPLICATED BY REPORTER RECENT TRANSITION TO BASIC MODEL OF MLG AFTER EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN ADVANCED MODEL OF THIS MLG. COCKPIT CONFIGN DEFINITELY CONTRIBUTORY.

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.