Air carrier large transport track heading deviation.

Attributes
ACN	151912
Time
Date	199007
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lga
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	151912
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On downwind for a VOR-G approach to runway 22 at lga, approach control told us, 'air carrier X, turn left to 300, intercept final approach course and cleared for VOR-G approach to 22.' we started the turn, but it became apparent to us that we were too close in for the approach and that approach control had made a mistake in issuing us this clearance. We rolled out of the turn and tried to verify the clearance with approach control but were unable to get a word in edgewise due to the ridiculously high vol of radio traffic. Finally approach control gave us instructions to turn right to 070 degrees and maintain 3000', and advised us that the previously issued approach clearance was not for us, but was for an air carrier Y flight. Approach control made a mistake and used our call sign instead of acy's and we were unable to verify and correct due to overload on the approach controller. Luckily the problem was resolved west/O further incident and no conflict occurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT TRACK HEADING DEVIATION.

Narrative: ON DOWNWIND FOR A VOR-G APCH TO RWY 22 AT LGA, APCH CTL TOLD US, 'ACR X, TURN LEFT TO 300, INTERCEPT FINAL APCH COURSE AND CLRED FOR VOR-G APCH TO 22.' WE STARTED THE TURN, BUT IT BECAME APPARENT TO US THAT WE WERE TOO CLOSE IN FOR THE APCH AND THAT APCH CTL HAD MADE A MISTAKE IN ISSUING US THIS CLRNC. WE ROLLED OUT OF THE TURN AND TRIED TO VERIFY THE CLRNC WITH APCH CTL BUT WERE UNABLE TO GET A WORD IN EDGEWISE DUE TO THE RIDICULOUSLY HIGH VOL OF RADIO TFC. FINALLY APCH CTL GAVE US INSTRUCTIONS TO TURN RIGHT TO 070 DEGS AND MAINTAIN 3000', AND ADVISED US THAT THE PREVIOUSLY ISSUED APCH CLRNC WAS NOT FOR US, BUT WAS FOR AN ACR Y FLT. APCH CTL MADE A MISTAKE AND USED OUR CALL SIGN INSTEAD OF ACY'S AND WE WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY AND CORRECT DUE TO OVERLOAD ON THE APCH CTLR. LUCKILY THE PROB WAS RESOLVED W/O FURTHER INCIDENT AND NO CONFLICT OCCURRED.

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.