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Similar call signs caused miscom between ATC and flight crew. Flight crew responded to another aircraft call sign, ATC missed the wrong aircraft reading back descent clearance.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 350926 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199610 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : mqo |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 26300 msl bound upper : 28000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zla tower : lax |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737-300 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | Other Other |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 7500 |
| ASRS Report | 350926 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
We were at a cruising altitude of FL280 when ATC called 'XY123, descend to fl 240.' I read back 'descend to fl 240, XY123.' my first officer began about a 1000 FPM descent, while descending through FL263. ZLA said, 'XY123 say your altitude.' I responded with, 'XY123 is out of FL263 for FL240.' ZLA said, 'you have taken someone else's clearance.' I responded with 'do you want us to climb back to FL280?' ATC said 'you can level at FL260.' he then advised me (ATC) that we took ZY23 clearance to descend. I then responded with 'I read back the clearance as XY123 descend to FL240.' ATC said well you must have called back at the same time.' it's obvious that we had the same or similar call signs. It would have helped if we were advised that a similar call sign was on frequency with us, we are always more cautious when we have that information.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: SIMILAR CALL SIGNS CAUSED MISCOM BTWN ATC AND FLC. FLC RESPONDED TO ANOTHER ACFT CALL SIGN, ATC MISSED THE WRONG ACFT READING BACK DSCNT CLRNC.
Narrative: WE WERE AT A CRUISING ALT OF FL280 WHEN ATC CALLED 'XY123, DSND TO FL 240.' I READ BACK 'DSND TO FL 240, XY123.' MY FO BEGAN ABOUT A 1000 FPM DSCNT, WHILE DSNDING THROUGH FL263. ZLA SAID, 'XY123 SAY YOUR ALT.' I RESPONDED WITH, 'XY123 IS OUT OF FL263 FOR FL240.' ZLA SAID, 'YOU HAVE TAKEN SOMEONE ELSE'S CLRNC.' I RESPONDED WITH 'DO YOU WANT US TO CLB BACK TO FL280?' ATC SAID 'YOU CAN LEVEL AT FL260.' HE THEN ADVISED ME (ATC) THAT WE TOOK ZY23 CLRNC TO DSND. I THEN RESPONDED WITH 'I READ BACK THE CLRNC AS XY123 DSND TO FL240.' ATC SAID WELL YOU MUST HAVE CALLED BACK AT THE SAME TIME.' IT'S OBVIOUS THAT WE HAD THE SAME OR SIMILAR CALL SIGNS. IT WOULD HAVE HELPED IF WE WERE ADVISED THAT A SIMILAR CALL SIGN WAS ON FREQ WITH US, WE ARE ALWAYS MORE CAUTIOUS WHEN WE HAVE THAT INFO.
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.