A lockheed L1011 flight crew descended on a clearance intended for another aircraft near atl.

Attributes
ACN	446478
Time
Date	199908
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : lgc.vortac
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	L-1011 Tri-Star All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	arrival star : lgc8
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 19203 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	446478
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	446850
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
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:

On aug/xa/99, I, captain X, was PIC of aircraft X and was approaching atl airport approximately 10 mi south of the goons intersection. It was XA30. Aircraft X descended through FL290 for FL280 as per requested by ZTL. ZTL gave a frequency change to 121.27. Upon checking in on frequency 121.27, the crew had to wait for the controller to acknowledge the radio contact. The radio frequency was congested due to inclement WX and requests for deviations. As the captain and copilot monitored the frequency, we heard the controller say, 'I don't want to talk to anybody except aircraft Y and another aircraft, the call sign unknown at this time.' we then heard the controller say, 'aircraft X descend immediately through FL230 to maintain FL220.' we immediately expedited aircraft X descent through FL280 to get through FL230 to maintain FL220. The next radio transmission was from aircraft Y instructing the controller he was through FL230 to maintain FL220. Captain and copilot of aircraft X both felt the controller should be questioned regarding aircraft X's clearance to FL220. At that point, believing it was possible the clearance was for aircraft Y, aircraft X leveled off at FL260. 3 attempts were made to contact the controller and he responded on the third attempt. When the controller recognized our call he said, 'negative, the clearance was for aircraft Y and I want you at FL280.' we immediately initiated a climb to FL280 and no further events occurred. There were no other aircraft within 25 mi of aircraft X as shown on the TCASII.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A LOCKHEED L1011 FLC DSNDED ON A CLRNC INTENDED FOR ANOTHER ACFT NEAR ATL.

Narrative: ON AUG/XA/99, I, CAPT X, WAS PIC OF ACFT X AND WAS APCHING ATL ARPT APPROX 10 MI S OF THE GOONS INTXN. IT WAS XA30. ACFT X DSNDED THROUGH FL290 FOR FL280 AS PER REQUESTED BY ZTL. ZTL GAVE A FREQ CHANGE TO 121.27. UPON CHKING IN ON FREQ 121.27, THE CREW HAD TO WAIT FOR THE CTLR TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RADIO CONTACT. THE RADIO FREQ WAS CONGESTED DUE TO INCLEMENT WX AND REQUESTS FOR DEVS. AS THE CAPT AND COPLT MONITORED THE FREQ, WE HEARD THE CTLR SAY, 'I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO ANYBODY EXCEPT ACFT Y AND ANOTHER ACFT, THE CALL SIGN UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.' WE THEN HEARD THE CTLR SAY, 'ACFT X DSND IMMEDIATELY THROUGH FL230 TO MAINTAIN FL220.' WE IMMEDIATELY EXPEDITED ACFT X DSCNT THROUGH FL280 TO GET THROUGH FL230 TO MAINTAIN FL220. THE NEXT RADIO XMISSION WAS FROM ACFT Y INSTRUCTING THE CTLR HE WAS THROUGH FL230 TO MAINTAIN FL220. CAPT AND COPLT OF ACFT X BOTH FELT THE CTLR SHOULD BE QUESTIONED REGARDING ACFT X'S CLRNC TO FL220. AT THAT POINT, BELIEVING IT WAS POSSIBLE THE CLRNC WAS FOR ACFT Y, ACFT X LEVELED OFF AT FL260. 3 ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO CONTACT THE CTLR AND HE RESPONDED ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT. WHEN THE CTLR RECOGNIZED OUR CALL HE SAID, 'NEGATIVE, THE CLRNC WAS FOR ACFT Y AND I WANT YOU AT FL280.' WE IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A CLB TO FL280 AND NO FURTHER EVENTS OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO OTHER ACFT WITHIN 25 MI OF ACFT X AS SHOWN ON THE TCASII.

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.