Altitude excursion from assigned.

Attributes
ACN	294829
Time
Date	199501
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ric
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 12000
ASRS Report	294829
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

When switched to ZDC frequency 132.22 we were not notified of similar call signs of aircraft on frequency. We were given a descent clearance of cross 60 south of rich at FL290. On descent we were given clearance to descend to FL240. Copilot who was executing PF duties continued through FL290 to meet requirements to FL240. We acknowledged to ATC clearance to descend to FL240. At FL280 ATC questioned our altitude and to level at FL280, which we complied with. After monitoring frequency, we became aware of a flight on frequency. We were not notified of similar call signs by ATC. When queried about clearance we were told of no traffic conflict or problems. So this report is a 'cya' report. As a pilot I have no control of issued flight number with company let alone another airline. Hopefully you have more power so as to keep like numbers on different parts of the continent.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT EXCURSION FROM ASSIGNED.

Narrative: WHEN SWITCHED TO ZDC FREQ 132.22 WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF SIMILAR CALL SIGNS OF ACFT ON FREQ. WE WERE GIVEN A DSCNT CLRNC OF CROSS 60 S OF RICH AT FL290. ON DSCNT WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO DSND TO FL240. COPLT WHO WAS EXECUTING PF DUTIES CONTINUED THROUGH FL290 TO MEET REQUIREMENTS TO FL240. WE ACKNOWLEDGED TO ATC CLRNC TO DSND TO FL240. AT FL280 ATC QUESTIONED OUR ALT AND TO LEVEL AT FL280, WHICH WE COMPLIED WITH. AFTER MONITORING FREQ, WE BECAME AWARE OF A FLT ON FREQ. WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF SIMILAR CALL SIGNS BY ATC. WHEN QUERIED ABOUT CLRNC WE WERE TOLD OF NO TFC CONFLICT OR PROBS. SO THIS RPT IS A 'CYA' RPT. AS A PLT I HAVE NO CTL OF ISSUED FLT NUMBER WITH COMPANY LET ALONE ANOTHER AIRLINE. HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE MORE PWR SO AS TO KEEP LIKE NUMBERS ON DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CONTINENT.

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.