Similar sounding a/north creates a potential conflict in clearance interpretation.

Attributes
ACN	270305
Time
Date	199405
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	270305
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 500 vertical : 800
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Inside 7 NM final, given 45 degree vector off course for spacing. (We were originally established on course cleared for approach VMC on top). Turned back on intercept, then given heading and altitude intended for another aircraft with similar call sign. (We were flight gga the vector was intended for flight-gag) controller mistakenly gave us the intended heading/altitude for him. We acknowledged and executed. TCASII advisory warned us of conflict. We took evasive action. Subsequent conversation with three parties involved confirmed instruction had been intended for flight gag but was given to gga.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SIMILAR SOUNDING A/N CREATES A POTENTIAL CONFLICT IN CLRNC INTERP.

Narrative: INSIDE 7 NM FINAL, GIVEN 45 DEG VECTOR OFF COURSE FOR SPACING. (WE WERE ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED ON COURSE CLRED FOR APCH VMC ON TOP). TURNED BACK ON INTERCEPT, THEN GIVEN HDG AND ALT INTENDED FOR ANOTHER ACFT WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGN. (WE WERE FLT GGA THE VECTOR WAS INTENDED FOR FLT-GAG) CTLR MISTAKENLY GAVE US THE INTENDED HDG/ALT FOR HIM. WE ACKNOWLEDGED AND EXECUTED. TCASII ADVISORY WARNED US OF CONFLICT. WE TOOK EVASIVE ACTION. SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATION WITH THREE PARTIES INVOLVED CONFIRMED INSTRUCTION HAD BEEN INTENDED FOR FLT GAG BUT WAS GIVEN TO GGA.

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.