Altitude deviation altitude excursion after reply to wrong call sign.

Attributes
ACN	305020
Time
Date	199505
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9700 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
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 other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	305020
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

A mix-up somewhere, probably because there were 2 of same air carrier aircraft on approach, air carrier X126 and air carrier X127, I being X126. At about 10 DME X126 was cleared to 210 KTS and expedited descent to 5000 ft. A little out of normal profile into atl which was using runway 26R&left, but not unheard of. I acknowledged all clrncs and ended with our call sign. We were being very careful and made sure the clearance was for X126, not X127. The thinking (of ATC) was that we were to be at 11000 ft. At 9700 ft we were instructed to expedite climb to 11000 ft which we did. I've tried for yrs to get the planning people not to schedule any similar numbers of any same company to be in the air at the same time. Marketing people will never understand the problem until there are bodies at their door step.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT EXCURSION AFTER REPLY TO WRONG CALL SIGN.

Narrative: A MIX-UP SOMEWHERE, PROBABLY BECAUSE THERE WERE 2 OF SAME ACR ACFT ON APCH, ACR X126 AND ACR X127, I BEING X126. AT ABOUT 10 DME X126 WAS CLRED TO 210 KTS AND EXPEDITED DSCNT TO 5000 FT. A LITTLE OUT OF NORMAL PROFILE INTO ATL WHICH WAS USING RWY 26R&L, BUT NOT UNHEARD OF. I ACKNOWLEDGED ALL CLRNCS AND ENDED WITH OUR CALL SIGN. WE WERE BEING VERY CAREFUL AND MADE SURE THE CLRNC WAS FOR X126, NOT X127. THE THINKING (OF ATC) WAS THAT WE WERE TO BE AT 11000 FT. AT 9700 FT WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO EXPEDITE CLB TO 11000 FT WHICH WE DID. I'VE TRIED FOR YRS TO GET THE PLANNING PEOPLE NOT TO SCHEDULE ANY SIMILAR NUMBERS OF ANY SAME COMPANY TO BE IN THE AIR AT THE SAME TIME. MARKETING PEOPLE WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND THE PROB UNTIL THERE ARE BODIES AT THEIR DOOR STEP.

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.