Reporter with similar call sign assigned a heading turn in error by controller.

Attributes
ACN	321360
Time
Date	199511
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : clt
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : clt
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Jetstream 31
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 8200 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	321360
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	322045
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

After we had been vectored to join the localizer back course for runway 23 at clt, the final controller assigned a descent to 4000 ft MSL. While descending on localizer back course, controller issued a left turn to 360 degrees. Thinking he wanted a right turn (shorter distance to 360 degrees) I asked the PNF (a captain) to confirm if the controller meant right to 360 degrees. After approximately 20 seconds of continuous communications with other aircraft, the PNF did ask if he wanted a left or right turn to 360 degrees. Controller confirmed the left turn heading. After turning through about 190 degrees, controller issued an 'immediate' right turn to 250 degrees and asked if we had the airport in sight. After acknowledging we did, we were cleared for a visual approach. After landing, tower asked if we would call TRACON when we got a chance. While talking to the tower supervisor, he asked why we turned off the localizer back course? I explained the final controller had told us to, and he told me the controller had given those instructions (left turn to 360 degrees to another aircraft nxxba. Both of us (pilots) thought the instructions of the left turn was for us nxxab, even after we asked about the turn. Our flight attendant had been listening on a headset, and she heard the same instructions we heard. The tower supervisor told me there was no traffic conflict and said he didn't want to 'tag' the tapes and listen to them. I asked him to do so because I wanted to know if we had indeed heard the wrong tail number. The next day I called the area manager to inquire about the results of the tape replay. I was told, 'you guys didn't do anything wrong, we screwed up.' this was all I could get out of him. I tried to find out what could be done on my part and his to help prevent this from happening again. This was to no avail. This is not the first time this has happened to me and other fellow pilots. In my opinion, clt is an accident waiting to happen.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGN ASSIGNED A HDG TURN IN ERROR BY CTLR.

Narrative: AFTER WE HAD BEEN VECTORED TO JOIN THE LOC BACK COURSE FOR RWY 23 AT CLT, THE FINAL CTLR ASSIGNED A DSCNT TO 4000 FT MSL. WHILE DSNDING ON LOC BACK COURSE, CTLR ISSUED A L TURN TO 360 DEGS. THINKING HE WANTED A R TURN (SHORTER DISTANCE TO 360 DEGS) I ASKED THE PNF (A CAPT) TO CONFIRM IF THE CTLR MEANT R TO 360 DEGS. AFTER APPROX 20 SECONDS OF CONTINUOUS COMS WITH OTHER ACFT, THE PNF DID ASK IF HE WANTED A L OR R TURN TO 360 DEGS. CTLR CONFIRMED THE L TURN HDG. AFTER TURNING THROUGH ABOUT 190 DEGS, CTLR ISSUED AN 'IMMEDIATE' R TURN TO 250 DEGS AND ASKED IF WE HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT. AFTER ACKNOWLEDGING WE DID, WE WERE CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH. AFTER LNDG, TWR ASKED IF WE WOULD CALL TRACON WHEN WE GOT A CHANCE. WHILE TALKING TO THE TWR SUPVR, HE ASKED WHY WE TURNED OFF THE LOC BACK COURSE? I EXPLAINED THE FINAL CTLR HAD TOLD US TO, AND HE TOLD ME THE CTLR HAD GIVEN THOSE INSTRUCTIONS (L TURN TO 360 DEGS TO ANOTHER ACFT NXXBA. BOTH OF US (PLTS) THOUGHT THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE L TURN WAS FOR US NXXAB, EVEN AFTER WE ASKED ABOUT THE TURN. OUR FLT ATTENDANT HAD BEEN LISTENING ON A HEADSET, AND SHE HEARD THE SAME INSTRUCTIONS WE HEARD. THE TWR SUPVR TOLD ME THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT AND SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO 'TAG' THE TAPES AND LISTEN TO THEM. I ASKED HIM TO DO SO BECAUSE I WANTED TO KNOW IF WE HAD INDEED HEARD THE WRONG TAIL NUMBER. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED THE AREA MGR TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE TAPE REPLAY. I WAS TOLD, 'YOU GUYS DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG, WE SCREWED UP.' THIS WAS ALL I COULD GET OUT OF HIM. I TRIED TO FIND OUT WHAT COULD BE DONE ON MY PART AND HIS TO HELP PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. THIS WAS TO NO AVAIL. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND OTHER FELLOW PLTS. IN MY OPINION, CLT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.

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.