<< >> NASA ASRS Report 171952, February 1991

Air carrier responds to descent clearance meant for second air carrier, calls for clarification of clearance. Similar call signs.

Attributes
ACN	171952
Time
Date	199102
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6700 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord artcc : oejd
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	171952
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other other

Narrative:

While flying approach controller issued a clearance to descend to 4000'. The captain repeated the instruction and I began the descent to the new altitude. There was another air carrier with the same number also on the approach in front of my aircraft. After descending about 275', the other aircraft asked for clarification of the clearance and who it was issued to. At that time, he controller issued the clearance to the aircraft with an identical number. I arrested the descent at 300' below assigned altitude and immediately returned to assigned altitude. The controller did not question either aircraft about the confusion and I returned my aircraft to the assigned altitude and safety of flight was not affected.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR RESPONDS TO DESCENT CLRNC MEANT FOR SECOND ACR, CALLS FOR CLARIFICATION OF CLRNC. SIMILAR CALL SIGNS.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING APCH CTLR ISSUED A CLRNC TO DSND TO 4000'. THE CAPT REPEATED THE INSTRUCTION AND I BEGAN THE DSNT TO THE NEW ALT. THERE WAS ANOTHER AIR CARRIER WITH THE SAME NUMBER ALSO ON THE APCH IN FRONT OF MY ACFT. AFTER DSNDING ABOUT 275', THE OTHER ACFT ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION OF THE CLRNC AND WHO IT WAS ISSUED TO. AT THAT TIME, HE CTLR ISSUED THE CLRNC TO THE ACFT WITH AN IDENTICAL NUMBER. I ARRESTED THE DSNT AT 300' BELOW ASSIGNED ALT AND IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO ASSIGNED ALT. THE CTLR DID NOT QUESTION EITHER ACFT ABOUT THE CONFUSION AND I RETURNED MY ACFT TO THE ASSIGNED ALT AND SAFETY OF FLT WAS NOT AFFECTED.

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.