MD80 flight crew accepts clearance intended for another aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	440530
Time
Date	199906
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : orl.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26800 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.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	440533
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	440530
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 2
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Captain was flying, first officer working the radios. We both heard and accepted a clearance to descend to FL240 and I responded to the clearance with the proper readback. The controller never said anything different. We were at an altitude of FL268. We had been level at FL280, when I heard another flight say that someone accepted their clearance. About that time the controller asked what our altitude was and told us to maintain FL280 and normal speed. He never said there was a problem and we continued on normally to mia.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLC ACCEPTS CLRNC INTENDED FOR ANOTHER ACFT.

Narrative: CAPT WAS FLYING, FO WORKING THE RADIOS. WE BOTH HEARD AND ACCEPTED A CLRNC TO DSND TO FL240 AND I RESPONDED TO THE CLRNC WITH THE PROPER READBACK. THE CTLR NEVER SAID ANYTHING DIFFERENT. WE WERE AT AN ALT OF FL268. WE HAD BEEN LEVEL AT FL280, WHEN I HEARD ANOTHER FLT SAY THAT SOMEONE ACCEPTED THEIR CLRNC. ABOUT THAT TIME THE CTLR ASKED WHAT OUR ALT WAS AND TOLD US TO MAINTAIN FL280 AND NORMAL SPD. HE NEVER SAID THERE WAS A PROB AND WE CONTINUED ON NORMALLY TO MIA.

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.