Narrative:

Established on the majic 3 arrival approximately 20 mi northeast of clt at 9000', we were given a runway change from 18R to 36R. Having briefed the approach (ILS) for 18R, we were now pressed to rest our radios for the ILS 36R (tune, identify and brief). My first officer was handling the radio calls as I began to set up for our approach. While off the ATC frequency my first officer selected 3600' in the altitude selector window. When I came back on approach control frequency my first officer said that we were cleared to 3600' and to turn to 180 degrees and the 10 DME. Somewhere between the time that I left the frequency and my return we were also turned over to the control final controller. I then started the descent for 9000' to 3600' as per my first officer report of what approach control had given us. In a standard descent I began to brief the ILS approach to 36R control. At approximately 5000' the final controller said that we had taken a clearance for another aircraft and to climb back to 9000'. We complied and were told that there was no conflict with any other aircraft. Shortly after reaching 9000' we were cleared to descend to 3600'. We completed the flight west/O further incident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF MLG TOOK CLRNC MEANT FOR ANOTHER FLT, SAME COMPANY WITH SIMILAR IDENTIFIER. DESCENDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: ESTABLISHED ON THE MAJIC 3 ARR APPROX 20 MI NE OF CLT AT 9000', WE WERE GIVEN A RWY CHANGE FROM 18R TO 36R. HAVING BRIEFED THE APCH (ILS) FOR 18R, WE WERE NOW PRESSED TO REST OUR RADIOS FOR THE ILS 36R (TUNE, IDENT AND BRIEF). MY F/O WAS HANDLING THE RADIO CALLS AS I BEGAN TO SET UP FOR OUR APCH. WHILE OFF THE ATC FREQ MY F/O SELECTED 3600' IN THE ALT SELECTOR WINDOW. WHEN I CAME BACK ON APCH CTL FREQ MY F/O SAID THAT WE WERE CLRED TO 3600' AND TO TURN TO 180 DEGS AND THE 10 DME. SOMEWHERE BTWN THE TIME THAT I LEFT THE FREQ AND MY RETURN WE WERE ALSO TURNED OVER TO THE CTL FINAL CTLR. I THEN STARTED THE DSNT FOR 9000' TO 3600' AS PER MY F/O RPT OF WHAT APCH CTL HAD GIVEN US. IN A STANDARD DSNT I BEGAN TO BRIEF THE ILS APCH TO 36R CTL. AT APPROX 5000' THE FINAL CTLR SAID THAT WE HAD TAKEN A CLRNC FOR ANOTHER ACFT AND TO CLB BACK TO 9000'. WE COMPLIED AND WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH ANY OTHER ACFT. SHORTLY AFTER REACHING 9000' WE WERE CLRED TO DSND TO 3600'. WE COMPLETED THE FLT W/O FURTHER INCIDENT.

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.