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This MD80 crew descended to a lower altitude based on a clearance intended for a company aircraft with a similar flight number.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 429670 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199902 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zzz.artcc |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 33000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zzz.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : enroute altitude change descent : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zzz.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| ASRS Report | 429670 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
We were level at FL330. Received and acknowledged a clearance to FL290. We started descent at 1000 FPM. When we were leveling off at FL290, center asked our altitude. We responded, FL290. There was a pause and we were told that the clearance was for another flight. We were operating as flight xx. Center said the clearance was for our company flight xy. The descent was uneventful and we proceeded to our destination. I spoke to supervisor and he indicated that there had been a misunderstanding, and it would go no further. Obviously there was a mixup in the call sign and altitude assignment. New cockpit position, new aircraft. Pay closer attention to assignments and question all calls.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: THIS MD80 CREW DSNDED TO A LOWER ALT BASED ON A CLRNC INTENDED FOR A COMPANY ACFT WITH A SIMILAR FLT NUMBER.
Narrative: WE WERE LEVEL AT FL330. RECEIVED AND ACKNOWLEDGED A CLRNC TO FL290. WE STARTED DSCNT AT 1000 FPM. WHEN WE WERE LEVELING OFF AT FL290, CTR ASKED OUR ALT. WE RESPONDED, FL290. THERE WAS A PAUSE AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CLRNC WAS FOR ANOTHER FLT. WE WERE OPERATING AS FLT XX. CTR SAID THE CLRNC WAS FOR OUR COMPANY FLT XY. THE DSCNT WAS UNEVENTFUL AND WE PROCEEDED TO OUR DEST. I SPOKE TO SUPVR AND HE INDICATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A MISUNDERSTANDING, AND IT WOULD GO NO FURTHER. OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A MIXUP IN THE CALL SIGN AND ALT ASSIGNMENT. NEW COCKPIT POS, NEW ACFT. PAY CLOSER ATTN TO ASSIGNMENTS AND QUESTION ALL CALLS.
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.