Air carrier takes clearance meant for similar a/north. TCASII alert results.

Attributes
ACN	317048
Time
Date	199509
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw tower : leb
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	departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	DC-10 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 197 flight time total : 21162 flight time type : 3190
ASRS Report	317048
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 124 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 1250
ASRS Report	316903
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During climb out on the palace 2 SID with departure control we were given a clearance to turn to a 330 degree heading, climb to 13000 ft, and maintain 250 KTS all in the same clearance. The clearance was given at approximately 8000 ft. In the turn and approaching 12000 ft we got a TCASII RA to descend. We complied with RA and visually saw a DC10 that was also in a turn. At that time departure control gave us a clearance to descend to 10000 ft immediately, which we complied with. We passed about 1000 ft below and 1 mi from the DC10. When we asked about the clearance to 13000 ft, the controller told us that clearance was for flight xya, our flight number was xyi. However, we read back the clearance and did not hear back from the controller to the contrary. Causes of incident I believe are: very busy environment, similar call signs, too many instructions in the same clearance, departure corridors crossing arrival corridors.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR TAKES CLRNC MEANT FOR SIMILAR A/N. TCASII ALERT RESULTS.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT ON THE PALACE 2 SID WITH DEP CTL WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO TURN TO A 330 DEG HDG, CLB TO 13000 FT, AND MAINTAIN 250 KTS ALL IN THE SAME CLRNC. THE CLRNC WAS GIVEN AT APPROX 8000 FT. IN THE TURN AND APCHING 12000 FT WE GOT A TCASII RA TO DSND. WE COMPLIED WITH RA AND VISUALLY SAW A DC10 THAT WAS ALSO IN A TURN. AT THAT TIME DEP CTL GAVE US A CLRNC TO DSND TO 10000 FT IMMEDIATELY, WHICH WE COMPLIED WITH. WE PASSED ABOUT 1000 FT BELOW AND 1 MI FROM THE DC10. WHEN WE ASKED ABOUT THE CLRNC TO 13000 FT, THE CTLR TOLD US THAT CLRNC WAS FOR FLT XYA, OUR FLT NUMBER WAS XYI. HOWEVER, WE READ BACK THE CLRNC AND DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM THE CTLR TO THE CONTRARY. CAUSES OF INCIDENT I BELIEVE ARE: VERY BUSY ENVIRONMENT, SIMILAR CALL SIGNS, TOO MANY INSTRUCTIONS IN THE SAME CLRNC, DEP CORRIDORS XING ARR CORRIDORS.

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.