Narrative:

On localizer runway 4R bos intercepting GS at 3000 ft approach control confused our call sign with another company flight on downwind for same approach. Instructions were given to 'turn to 220 and maintain 4000 ft.' we questioned approach by asking 'you want our call sign' to turn to 220 and maintain 4000 ft.' he was still thinking that he was talking to the other aircraft and repeated instructions. We questioned the instructions again and asked for direction of turn (180 degree) because we had downwind traffic at 4000 ft and parallel traffic to runway 4L. Still thinking he was talking to the other aircraft he said turn in shorter direction. After we got the same instruction the third time we concluded there must be a problem ahead we were unaware of. I had parallel runway 4L traffic in sight and on TCASII. I initiated climb to clear traffic and began turn. At about same time controller called parallel traffic and contact tower, but by now it was too late to continue approach, then controller realized we were turning and asked what we were doing. We told him what had happened and after the confusion was settled, a normal approach was flown. This points out the need to question ourselves and listen.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR ON FINAL APCH WAS ISSUED A TURN AND CLB MEANT FOR ANOTHER ACFT WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGN RESULTING IN A MISSED APCH.

Narrative: ON LOC RWY 4R BOS INTERCEPTING GS AT 3000 FT APCH CTL CONFUSED OUR CALL SIGN WITH ANOTHER COMPANY FLT ON DOWNWIND FOR SAME APCH. INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN TO 'TURN TO 220 AND MAINTAIN 4000 FT.' WE QUESTIONED APCH BY ASKING 'YOU WANT OUR CALL SIGN' TO TURN TO 220 AND MAINTAIN 4000 FT.' HE WAS STILL THINKING THAT HE WAS TALKING TO THE OTHER ACFT AND REPEATED INSTRUCTIONS. WE QUESTIONED THE INSTRUCTIONS AGAIN AND ASKED FOR DIRECTION OF TURN (180 DEG) BECAUSE WE HAD DOWNWIND TFC AT 4000 FT AND PARALLEL TFC TO RWY 4L. STILL THINKING HE WAS TALKING TO THE OTHER ACFT HE SAID TURN IN SHORTER DIRECTION. AFTER WE GOT THE SAME INSTRUCTION THE THIRD TIME WE CONCLUDED THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM AHEAD WE WERE UNAWARE OF. I HAD PARALLEL RWY 4L TFC IN SIGHT AND ON TCASII. I INITIATED CLB TO CLR TFC AND BEGAN TURN. AT ABOUT SAME TIME CTLR CALLED PARALLEL TFC AND CONTACT TWR, BUT BY NOW IT WAS TOO LATE TO CONTINUE APCH, THEN CTLR REALIZED WE WERE TURNING AND ASKED WHAT WE WERE DOING. WE TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND AFTER THE CONFUSION WAS SETTLED, A NORMAL APCH WAS FLOWN. THIS POINTS OUT THE NEED TO QUESTION OURSELVES AND LISTEN.

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.