Dc 9 crew accepts vector issued to another aircraft in ord airspace.

Attributes
ACN	428000
Time
Date	199902
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ord.vor
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : c90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 50
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 13850 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	428000
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were on a heading of 090 degrees and at 5000 ft MSL descending to 4000 ft MSL. We were on vectors for the ILS visual approach to runway 22R at ord. I was flying the aircraft. The first officer responded to a radio call and I heard him read back the clearance of 'turn right 180 degrees and intercept the runway 22R localizer.' but, what I didn't hear was our call sign. I thought maybe I missed something. When I started the turn and saw where the airport and runway were, I realized this didn't seem right. We were directly north of the airport and in no position to intercept runway 22R localizer. Then I asked the first officer to ask approach control what heading we were supposed to be on. At the same time approach control realized we were not on the correct heading, so he turned us to a heading of 045 degrees to re-enter downwind and to stop our descent at 4500 ft MSL. There were no conflicts with any other traffic because the other aircraft was down at 3500 ft MSL. We were vectored to intercept runway 22R localizer and landed without further incident. There were several things that led up to this problem. I believe I should have been listening to the radio xmissions. I should have questioned the first officer, or been more direct in asking the first officer to verify the clearance again if I didn't hear it. A couple of aircraft had similar sounding call signs, and radio congestion.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC 9 CREW ACCEPTS VECTOR ISSUED TO ANOTHER ACFT IN ORD AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WE WERE ON A HDG OF 090 DEGS AND AT 5000 FT MSL DSNDING TO 4000 FT MSL. WE WERE ON VECTORS FOR THE ILS VISUAL APCH TO RWY 22R AT ORD. I WAS FLYING THE ACFT. THE FO RESPONDED TO A RADIO CALL AND I HEARD HIM READ BACK THE CLRNC OF 'TURN R 180 DEGS AND INTERCEPT THE RWY 22R LOC.' BUT, WHAT I DIDN'T HEAR WAS OUR CALL SIGN. I THOUGHT MAYBE I MISSED SOMETHING. WHEN I STARTED THE TURN AND SAW WHERE THE ARPT AND RWY WERE, I REALIZED THIS DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT. WE WERE DIRECTLY N OF THE ARPT AND IN NO POS TO INTERCEPT RWY 22R LOC. THEN I ASKED THE FO TO ASK APCH CTL WHAT HDG WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ON. AT THE SAME TIME APCH CTL REALIZED WE WERE NOT ON THE CORRECT HDG, SO HE TURNED US TO A HDG OF 045 DEGS TO RE-ENTER DOWNWIND AND TO STOP OUR DSCNT AT 4500 FT MSL. THERE WERE NO CONFLICTS WITH ANY OTHER TFC BECAUSE THE OTHER ACFT WAS DOWN AT 3500 FT MSL. WE WERE VECTORED TO INTERCEPT RWY 22R LOC AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS THAT LED UP TO THIS PROB. I BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THE RADIO XMISSIONS. I SHOULD HAVE QUESTIONED THE FO, OR BEEN MORE DIRECT IN ASKING THE FO TO VERIFY THE CLRNC AGAIN IF I DIDN'T HEAR IT. A COUPLE OF ACFT HAD SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS, AND RADIO CONGESTION.

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.