Reply to wrong call sign leads a B737-400 flight crew into an altitude deviation altitude excursion ...

Attributes
ACN	344620
Time
Date	199608
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : psk
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 29500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-400
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 : 210 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	344620
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 3200
ASRS Report	344796
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were at cruise (FL280). ATC gave clearance to FL310 to another aircraft. We took the clearance by mistake. We read back the clearance to FL310 but ATC did not catch it until we were at FL295 in climb. There was no problem with other traffic, so no issue was made. The first officer was flying, he took to call and climbed the aircraft. I was talking to the acm and was out of the loop. Supplemental information from acn 344796: requested FL310 over psk. Controller read back cleared to FL310. Climbed to FL310 after acknowledging 'cleared to FL310.' controller came back and stated we were not cleared to FL310. Discussion ensued. Controller never said anything after we acknowledged, 'cleared to FL310.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPLY TO WRONG CALL SIGN LEADS A B737-400 FLC INTO AN ALTDEV ALT EXCURSION FROM ASSIGNED.

Narrative: WE WERE AT CRUISE (FL280). ATC GAVE CLRNC TO FL310 TO ANOTHER ACFT. WE TOOK THE CLRNC BY MISTAKE. WE READ BACK THE CLRNC TO FL310 BUT ATC DID NOT CATCH IT UNTIL WE WERE AT FL295 IN CLB. THERE WAS NO PROB WITH OTHER TFC, SO NO ISSUE WAS MADE. THE FO WAS FLYING, HE TOOK TO CALL AND CLBED THE ACFT. I WAS TALKING TO THE ACM AND WAS OUT OF THE LOOP. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 344796: REQUESTED FL310 OVER PSK. CTLR READ BACK CLRED TO FL310. CLBED TO FL310 AFTER ACKNOWLEDGING 'CLRED TO FL310.' CTLR CAME BACK AND STATED WE WERE NOT CLRED TO FL310. DISCUSSION ENSUED. CTLR NEVER SAID ANYTHING AFTER WE ACKNOWLEDGED, 'CLRED TO FL310.'

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.

Reply to wrong call sign leads a B737-400 flight crew into an altitude deviation altitude excursion from assigned.