B737-200 flight crew followed descent clearance meant for another aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	438140
Time
Date	199905
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : rdu.vor
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 12500 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	438140
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 1970 flight time type : 12
ASRS Report	438139
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

ZDC cleared us from FL270 to FL250. At FL254, ZDC asked if we were descending to FL250. We confirmed that we were. He stated that he thought he had given it to another company flight. We told him we had read the clearance back. He said that is was 'ok.' it was smoother at FL250. We asked if there was a problem and he stated no.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-200 FLC FOLLOWED DSCNT CLRNC MEANT FOR ANOTHER ACFT.

Narrative: ZDC CLRED US FROM FL270 TO FL250. AT FL254, ZDC ASKED IF WE WERE DSNDING TO FL250. WE CONFIRMED THAT WE WERE. HE STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE HAD GIVEN IT TO ANOTHER COMPANY FLT. WE TOLD HIM WE HAD READ THE CLRNC BACK. HE SAID THAT IS WAS 'OK.' IT WAS SMOOTHER AT FL250. WE ASKED IF THERE WAS A PROB AND HE STATED NO.

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.