Air carrier X left assigned altitude without clearance. Pilot deviation.

Attributes
ACN	144900
Time
Date	199005
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lga
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	144900
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	144893
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
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:

Approach asked air carrier X if we had the field. I did. Asked captain if he did. He stated yes. I advised controller that we had the field. Controller then sated cleared visibility runway 22. Read back call sign, cleared visibility. Commenced confign descent for visibility. Approximately 3000' approach stated fly heading 060 degrees. I repeated heading and asked if we were still cleared visibility. He (controller) stated no--visibility was for air carrier Y. Asked for level off 3000'. Remainder of flight uneventful. Believe controller mixed up call signs. Supplemental information from acn 144893: controller asked air carrier X if we had the field. As PIC, I did have the field. The copilot advised the controller that we had the field. The controller cleared for a visibility approach to runway 22. The copilot read back the clearance. I configured the aircraft for approach and started descent. At 3000' the controller stated air carrier X fly heading 060 degrees. The copilot read back the heading and asked if we were still cleared for the visibility. The controller stated no. We then heard similar # air carrier on the air.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X LEFT ASSIGNED ALT WITHOUT CLRNC. PLT DEVIATION.

Narrative: APCH ASKED ACR X IF WE HAD THE FIELD. I DID. ASKED CAPT IF HE DID. HE STATED YES. I ADVISED CTLR THAT WE HAD THE FIELD. CTLR THEN SATED CLRED VIS RWY 22. READ BACK CALL SIGN, CLRED VIS. COMMENCED CONFIGN DSNT FOR VIS. APPROX 3000' APCH STATED FLY HDG 060 DEGS. I REPEATED HDG AND ASKED IF WE WERE STILL CLRED VIS. HE (CTLR) STATED NO--VIS WAS FOR ACR Y. ASKED FOR LEVEL OFF 3000'. REMAINDER OF FLT UNEVENTFUL. BELIEVE CTLR MIXED UP CALL SIGNS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 144893: CTLR ASKED ACR X IF WE HAD THE FIELD. AS PIC, I DID HAVE THE FIELD. THE COPLT ADVISED THE CTLR THAT WE HAD THE FIELD. THE CTLR CLRED FOR A VIS APCH TO RWY 22. THE COPLT READ BACK THE CLRNC. I CONFIGURED THE ACFT FOR APCH AND STARTED DSNT. AT 3000' THE CTLR STATED ACR X FLY HDG 060 DEGS. THE COPLT READ BACK THE HDG AND ASKED IF WE WERE STILL CLRED FOR THE VIS. THE CTLR STATED NO. WE THEN HEARD SIMILAR # ACR ON THE AIR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.