Narrative:

While cruising wbound at FL390 on hyp 2 arrival to sjc about 60 DME ene, 247 degrees inbound, we were issued instructions to hold east of hyp, 080 degree right, left turns, 15 mi legs, FL290. Copilot read back clearance, including 'leaving FL390 for FL290.' descending through FL380, center told us to maintain FL390. We replied that we understood we were cleared to FL290. Center then told us to maintain FL370. Because of altitude miscom, I had copilot question holding clearance. Center replied that holding instructions were for another aircraft and to expect holding at el nido. Shortly thereafter, center issued identical holding clearance as above, except to maintain FL270. After readback, center corrected altitude to maintain FL370. This time readback procedure worked. On both occurrences, my copilot and I both heard a flight level which began with a 2, while center intended a flight level which began with a 3 (FL290/FL390, FL270/FL370). Either center miscommunicated, or we (pilots) both heard incorrectly. I religiously use an earpiece to minimize cockpit noise interference. There were no similar sounding tail #'south on the frequency. The only possibly contributing factor was that center was very busy holding and diverting aircraft due to sjc and oak being below landing minimums during rush hour traffic. I was very disappointed that readback procedure failed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR LTT ALT DEVIATION EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT IN RESPONSE TO WRONG CALL SIGN.

Narrative: WHILE CRUISING WBOUND AT FL390 ON HYP 2 ARR TO SJC ABOUT 60 DME ENE, 247 DEGS INBND, WE WERE ISSUED INSTRUCTIONS TO HOLD E OF HYP, 080 DEG R, LEFT TURNS, 15 MI LEGS, FL290. COPLT READ BACK CLRNC, INCLUDING 'LEAVING FL390 FOR FL290.' DSNDING THROUGH FL380, CENTER TOLD US TO MAINTAIN FL390. WE REPLIED THAT WE UNDERSTOOD WE WERE CLRED TO FL290. CENTER THEN TOLD US TO MAINTAIN FL370. BECAUSE OF ALT MISCOM, I HAD COPLT QUESTION HOLDING CLRNC. CENTER REPLIED THAT HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS WERE FOR ANOTHER ACFT AND TO EXPECT HOLDING AT EL NIDO. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, CENTER ISSUED IDENTICAL HOLDING CLRNC AS ABOVE, EXCEPT TO MAINTAIN FL270. AFTER READBACK, CENTER CORRECTED ALT TO MAINTAIN FL370. THIS TIME READBACK PROC WORKED. ON BOTH OCCURRENCES, MY COPLT AND I BOTH HEARD A FLT LEVEL WHICH BEGAN WITH A 2, WHILE CENTER INTENDED A FLT LEVEL WHICH BEGAN WITH A 3 (FL290/FL390, FL270/FL370). EITHER CENTER MISCOMMUNICATED, OR WE (PLTS) BOTH HEARD INCORRECTLY. I RELIGIOUSLY USE AN EARPIECE TO MINIMIZE COCKPIT NOISE INTERFERENCE. THERE WERE NO SIMILAR SOUNDING TAIL #'S ON THE FREQ. THE ONLY POSSIBLY CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THAT CENTER WAS VERY BUSY HOLDING AND DIVERTING ACFT DUE TO SJC AND OAK BEING BELOW LNDG MINIMUMS DURING RUSH HR TFC. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT READBACK PROC FAILED.

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.