Air carrier accepts clearance meant for another aircraft, same company.

Attributes
ACN	167901
Time
Date	199101
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rdu
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rdu
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other 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 : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	167901
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 2700 flight time type : 220
ASRS Report	167771
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

I was in command of flight fdi en route to rdu from buf. During the descent, ATIS information was received for rdu: sky obscured, 1/8 mi visibility in fog, wind 230 degrees at 7 KTS, ILS CAT ii runway 23R. Crew was briefed for the CAT ii ILS 23R. Rdu approach issued us a descent to 8000', slow to 210 KTS. Rdu approach then informed all aircraft that rdu was changing operations to runway 5L and 5R, which we were not legal for. I asked the controller why the change, trying to express my concerns. He responded with latest RVR and winds. Embedded in the conversation he gave a descent clearance and a frequency change. We acknowledged. When we checked in we were informed to go back to last frequency. On return the controller said the clearance was for another aircraft, but it was ok to continue the descent to 6000', slow to 170 KTS. Contributing factors: call signs fdi, efi, flight engineer and other aircraft. WX. Runway change from a CAT ii operation to one with questionable legality. High density traffic situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR ACCEPTS CLRNC MEANT FOR ANOTHER ACFT, SAME COMPANY.

Narrative: I WAS IN COMMAND OF FLT FDI ENRTE TO RDU FROM BUF. DURING THE DSNT, ATIS INFO WAS RECEIVED FOR RDU: SKY OBSCURED, 1/8 MI VISIBILITY IN FOG, WIND 230 DEGS AT 7 KTS, ILS CAT II RWY 23R. CREW WAS BRIEFED FOR THE CAT II ILS 23R. RDU APCH ISSUED US A DSNT TO 8000', SLOW TO 210 KTS. RDU APCH THEN INFORMED ALL ACFT THAT RDU WAS CHANGING OPS TO RWY 5L AND 5R, WHICH WE WERE NOT LEGAL FOR. I ASKED THE CTLR WHY THE CHANGE, TRYING TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS. HE RESPONDED WITH LATEST RVR AND WINDS. EMBEDDED IN THE CONVERSATION HE GAVE A DSNT CLRNC AND A FREQ CHANGE. WE ACKNOWLEDGED. WHEN WE CHKED IN WE WERE INFORMED TO GO BACK TO LAST FREQ. ON RETURN THE CTLR SAID THE CLRNC WAS FOR ANOTHER ACFT, BUT IT WAS OK TO CONTINUE THE DSNT TO 6000', SLOW TO 170 KTS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: CALL SIGNS FDI, EFI, FE AND OTHER ACFT. WX. RWY CHANGE FROM A CAT II OPERATION TO ONE WITH QUESTIONABLE LEGALITY. HIGH DENSITY TFC SITUATION.

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.