Narrative:

I was flying as captain, in a cessna citation V. We were at FL350, about 86 NM southeast of pmm VOR on a route that would take us to pmm, the brave intersection, and finally the destination of rac, wi. At that time, ZAU stated 'descend to FL240, expedite through FL290.' my first officer read back 'descending out of FL350 for FL240, expedite through FL290.' we heard no further response from ATC or another aircraft. I initiated a descent at 3000 FPM. Moments later an obviously excited controller stated, 'that descent wasn't for you, climb immediately to FL350, make an immediate turn to 280 degrees.' as he began those statements, we received a TCASII TA. My response was brisk, stopping the descent, turning left, and climbing back to FL350. While doing so, the same controller came back on the air, now appearing to be quite shaken, directing his comments to another aircraft. He said, 'north-yyyyy, that descent was for you!' to which the other aircraft replied, rather pointedly, 'you never gave us a descent!' shortly after that, a different controller calmly stated, 'aircraft X cleared direct pmm VOR.' I did not get the tail number from the other aircraft. And I cannot say if there were 2 aircraft involved or 3. I assume 3, with my aircraft being #1, another aircraft at FL350, for whom the clearance was meant, being # 2, and an aircraft at a lower altitude being #3.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CREW TAKES DSCNT CLRNC OF ANOTHER ACFT. CTLR MISSES THE READBACK AND TFC CONFLICT IS THE RESULT.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING AS CAPT, IN A CESSNA CITATION V. WE WERE AT FL350, ABOUT 86 NM SE OF PMM VOR ON A RTE THAT WOULD TAKE US TO PMM, THE BRAVE INTXN, AND FINALLY THE DEST OF RAC, WI. AT THAT TIME, ZAU STATED 'DSND TO FL240, EXPEDITE THROUGH FL290.' MY FO READ BACK 'DSNDING OUT OF FL350 FOR FL240, EXPEDITE THROUGH FL290.' WE HEARD NO FURTHER RESPONSE FROM ATC OR ANOTHER ACFT. I INITIATED A DSCNT AT 3000 FPM. MOMENTS LATER AN OBVIOUSLY EXCITED CTLR STATED, 'THAT DSCNT WASN'T FOR YOU, CLB IMMEDIATELY TO FL350, MAKE AN IMMEDIATE TURN TO 280 DEGS.' AS HE BEGAN THOSE STATEMENTS, WE RECEIVED A TCASII TA. MY RESPONSE WAS BRISK, STOPPING THE DSCNT, TURNING L, AND CLBING BACK TO FL350. WHILE DOING SO, THE SAME CTLR CAME BACK ON THE AIR, NOW APPEARING TO BE QUITE SHAKEN, DIRECTING HIS COMMENTS TO ANOTHER ACFT. HE SAID, 'N-YYYYY, THAT DSCNT WAS FOR YOU!' TO WHICH THE OTHER ACFT REPLIED, RATHER POINTEDLY, 'YOU NEVER GAVE US A DSCNT!' SHORTLY AFTER THAT, A DIFFERENT CTLR CALMLY STATED, 'ACFT X CLRED DIRECT PMM VOR.' I DID NOT GET THE TAIL NUMBER FROM THE OTHER ACFT. AND I CANNOT SAY IF THERE WERE 2 ACFT INVOLVED OR 3. I ASSUME 3, WITH MY ACFT BEING #1, ANOTHER ACFT AT FL350, FOR WHOM THE CLRNC WAS MEANT, BEING # 2, AND AN ACFT AT A LOWER ALT BEING #3.

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.