Confusion in call signs for controller and flight crew of air carrier widebody transport on golden g...

Attributes
ACN	132258
Time
Date	198912
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa tower : den
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 18000
ASRS Report	132258
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were on a golden gate 1 arrival into sfo. ZOA ATC had cleared us to cross 20 mi north of sfo VOR at 250 KTS and 11000'. We read the clearance back. After the readback. ZOA said 'widebody transport X, go direct to sfo VOR.' the first officer said, 'roger, widebody transport X cleared direct to sfo.' a few mins later, ZOA said 'widebody transport X, are you going direct to sfo?' we replied, 'roger.' he immediately replied 'that clearance was for air carrier Y. Turn right to 200 degrees.' the first officer and I both are sure that ZOA had said 'widebody transport X cleared direct to sfo,' and had not said air carrier Y.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CONFUSION IN CALL SIGNS FOR CTLR AND FLT CREW OF ACR WDB ON GOLDEN GATE 1 STAR TO SFO.

Narrative: WE WERE ON A GOLDEN GATE 1 ARR INTO SFO. ZOA ATC HAD CLRED US TO CROSS 20 MI N OF SFO VOR AT 250 KTS AND 11000'. WE READ THE CLRNC BACK. AFTER THE READBACK. ZOA SAID 'WDB X, GO DIRECT TO SFO VOR.' THE F/O SAID, 'ROGER, WDB X CLRED DIRECT TO SFO.' A FEW MINS LATER, ZOA SAID 'WDB X, ARE YOU GOING DIRECT TO SFO?' WE REPLIED, 'ROGER.' HE IMMEDIATELY REPLIED 'THAT CLRNC WAS FOR ACR Y. TURN RIGHT TO 200 DEGS.' THE F/O AND I BOTH ARE SURE THAT ZOA HAD SAID 'WDB X CLRED DIRECT TO SFO,' AND HAD NOT SAID ACR Y.

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.

Confusion in call signs for controller and flight crew of air carrier widebody transport on golden gate 1 STAR to sfo.