Similar call signs air carrier X reply to wrong call sign climb through assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	266124
Time
Date	199403
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gbn
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 23800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab artcc : se
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	266124
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	265651
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was the PNF (first officer) on air carrier oox phx-san. Received climb clearance from ZAB to climb to FL230 expect further climb after we pass a king air at FL240, 5 mi west of bxk VOR. We were 15 NM northeast of gbn VOR when I thought I heard ZAB clear air carrier oox to FL310 expedite through FL270. I read back the clearance and ZAB didn't dispute my readback. As we were climbing through FL210 I heard air carrier X3X for the first time ask for a verification of his clearance. Air carrier X3X radio transmission came about 45 seconds to 1 min after I read back my clearance. There was a long pause from ZAB so I asked ZAB to reverify my clearance. Again, a long pause on the radio, so I reread my clearance to ZAB. At this time we were climbing through FL230. I then told the captain to level off until we find out which company flight had the climb clearance. We leveled off at 23800 ft and ZAB told us to maintain FL230 because of king air traffic at FL240. Suggestions: the captain and I both thought ZAB cleared us to FL310. We both need to listen a little closer when similar call signs are on the same frequency. Supplemental information from acn 265651: air carrier flight X and X3X on same frequency (our flight X was cleared to FL230). We heard and read back flight X climb to FL310 expedite through FL270. Like sounding call signs are a continuing problem. This pilot tries to always be alert, but sometimes it still can happen. ATC should notify like sounding call signs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SIMILAR CALL SIGNS ACR X REPLY TO WRONG CALL SIGN CLB THROUGH ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: I WAS THE PNF (FO) ON ACR OOX PHX-SAN. RECEIVED CLB CLRNC FROM ZAB TO CLB TO FL230 EXPECT FURTHER CLB AFTER WE PASS A KING AIR AT FL240, 5 MI W OF BXK VOR. WE WERE 15 NM NE OF GBN VOR WHEN I THOUGHT I HEARD ZAB CLR ACR OOX TO FL310 EXPEDITE THROUGH FL270. I READ BACK THE CLRNC AND ZAB DIDN'T DISPUTE MY READBACK. AS WE WERE CLBING THROUGH FL210 I HEARD ACR X3X FOR THE FIRST TIME ASK FOR A VERIFICATION OF HIS CLRNC. ACR X3X RADIO XMISSION CAME ABOUT 45 SECONDS TO 1 MIN AFTER I READ BACK MY CLRNC. THERE WAS A LONG PAUSE FROM ZAB SO I ASKED ZAB TO REVERIFY MY CLRNC. AGAIN, A LONG PAUSE ON THE RADIO, SO I REREAD MY CLRNC TO ZAB. AT THIS TIME WE WERE CLBING THROUGH FL230. I THEN TOLD THE CAPT TO LEVEL OFF UNTIL WE FIND OUT WHICH COMPANY FLT HAD THE CLB CLRNC. WE LEVELED OFF AT 23800 FT AND ZAB TOLD US TO MAINTAIN FL230 BECAUSE OF KING AIR TFC AT FL240. SUGGESTIONS: THE CAPT AND I BOTH THOUGHT ZAB CLRED US TO FL310. WE BOTH NEED TO LISTEN A LITTLE CLOSER WHEN SIMILAR CALL SIGNS ARE ON THE SAME FREQ. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM ACN 265651: ACR FLT X AND X3X ON SAME FREQ (OUR FLT X WAS CLRED TO FL230). WE HEARD AND READ BACK FLT X CLB TO FL310 EXPEDITE THROUGH FL270. LIKE SOUNDING CALL SIGNS ARE A CONTINUING PROB. THIS PLT TRIES TO ALWAYS BE ALERT, BUT SOMETIMES IT STILL CAN HAPPEN. ATC SHOULD NOTIFY LIKE SOUNDING CALL SIGNS.

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.