Air carrier flight crew accepted and initiated climb clearance which was meant for aircraft with similar sounding call sign.

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Attributes
ACN	315685
Time
Date	199509
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lar
State Reference	WY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise 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 : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	315685
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	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:

When cruising at FL310 requested climb to FL350. Center stated expect climb in a couple of mins. A couple of mins heard a clearance to FL330. Thought it was for us and initiated climb to FL330. After passing FL315 controller asked if we were still level FL310. We said no and that we were climbing to FL330. Controller said that we were not cleared to FL330 and to return to FL310. Even though we read the clearance back the controller said the climb was for another aircraft with a similar call sign. The problem resulted because I requested a climb, I expected a climb and when I heard a climb I believed it was for me. Also when the controller did not challenge my readback I knew it was for me. I was tired on the flight because of poor sleep the night before. I went to sleep in ont at XA00 and woke up at XE30. I tried to sleep more that morning but no success. We were picked up at the hotel and left ont for den. After a 2:19 layover at den, left to go to sea. The incident occurred 15 hours after I got up that morning. If I had been rested I may have asked why FL330 when I requested FL350.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC ACCEPTED AND INITIATED CLB CLRNC WHICH WAS MEANT FOR ACFT WITH SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGN.

Narrative: WHEN CRUISING AT FL310 REQUESTED CLB TO FL350. CTR STATED EXPECT CLB IN A COUPLE OF MINS. A COUPLE OF MINS HEARD A CLRNC TO FL330. THOUGHT IT WAS FOR US AND INITIATED CLB TO FL330. AFTER PASSING FL315 CTLR ASKED IF WE WERE STILL LEVEL FL310. WE SAID NO AND THAT WE WERE CLBING TO FL330. CTLR SAID THAT WE WERE NOT CLRED TO FL330 AND TO RETURN TO FL310. EVEN THOUGH WE READ THE CLRNC BACK THE CTLR SAID THE CLB WAS FOR ANOTHER ACFT WITH A SIMILAR CALL SIGN. THE PROB RESULTED BECAUSE I REQUESTED A CLB, I EXPECTED A CLB AND WHEN I HEARD A CLB I BELIEVED IT WAS FOR ME. ALSO WHEN THE CTLR DID NOT CHALLENGE MY READBACK I KNEW IT WAS FOR ME. I WAS TIRED ON THE FLT BECAUSE OF POOR SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE. I WENT TO SLEEP IN ONT AT XA00 AND WOKE UP AT XE30. I TRIED TO SLEEP MORE THAT MORNING BUT NO SUCCESS. WE WERE PICKED UP AT THE HOTEL AND LEFT ONT FOR DEN. AFTER A 2:19 LAYOVER AT DEN, LEFT TO GO TO SEA. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED 15 HRS AFTER I GOT UP THAT MORNING. IF I HAD BEEN RESTED I MAY HAVE ASKED WHY FL330 WHEN I REQUESTED FL350.

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.