ATCT local controller used same call sign for three different aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	148757
Time
Date	199006
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 3400 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	148757
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	148753
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were holding short of taxiway 19 on the outer at dfw when we were cleared into position and hold runway 17R. I read back medium large transport position and hold runway 17R. Tower then said medium large transport turn the corner, I called that we were in position and tower asked aircraft to turn corner and say call sign. Tower cleared us for takeoff and I read back medium large transport cleared for takeoff runway 17R. He then told medium large transport position and hold after we had started takeoff (approximately V1). He then cleared medium large transport for takeoff. The aircraft holding said who he was and where he was. Once safely airborne I radioed medium large transport airborne, should we go to departure. Controller said 'I wonder what happened' or 'I wonder how that happened' and sent us to departure. There were no further problems for flight. The captain and I discussed the confusion during cruise and analyzed our actions. Since he has been emphasizing reading back all runway crossing, position, and takeoff calls all month I'm quite sure I read back all information every time. As usual, there were many aircraft waiting to depart both sides of the airport. In the rush there was a breakdown in communications. It is disconcerting to hear your call sign cleared for takeoff at V1 to rotate!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATCT LCL CTLR USED SAME CALL SIGN FOR THREE DIFFERENT ACFT.

Narrative: WE WERE HOLDING SHORT OF TXWY 19 ON THE OUTER AT DFW WHEN WE WERE CLRED INTO POS AND HOLD RWY 17R. I READ BACK MLG POS AND HOLD RWY 17R. TWR THEN SAID MLG TURN THE CORNER, I CALLED THAT WE WERE IN POS AND TWR ASKED ACFT TO TURN CORNER AND SAY CALL SIGN. TWR CLRED US FOR TKOF AND I READ BACK MLG CLRED FOR TKOF RWY 17R. HE THEN TOLD MLG POS AND HOLD AFTER WE HAD STARTED TKOF (APPROX V1). HE THEN CLRED MLG FOR TKOF. THE ACFT HOLDING SAID WHO HE WAS AND WHERE HE WAS. ONCE SAFELY AIRBORNE I RADIOED MLG AIRBORNE, SHOULD WE GO TO DEP. CTLR SAID 'I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED' OR 'I WONDER HOW THAT HAPPENED' AND SENT US TO DEP. THERE WERE NO FURTHER PROBS FOR FLT. THE CAPT AND I DISCUSSED THE CONFUSION DURING CRUISE AND ANALYZED OUR ACTIONS. SINCE HE HAS BEEN EMPHASIZING READING BACK ALL RWY XING, POS, AND TKOF CALLS ALL MONTH I'M QUITE SURE I READ BACK ALL INFO EVERY TIME. AS USUAL, THERE WERE MANY ACFT WAITING TO DEPART BOTH SIDES OF THE ARPT. IN THE RUSH THERE WAS A BREAKDOWN IN COMS. IT IS DISCONCERTING TO HEAR YOUR CALL SIGN CLRED FOR TKOF AT V1 TO ROTATE!

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.