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An MD80 flight crew accepts a descent clearance given to another air carrier flight with a similar sounding call sign 60 southeast or odi, mn.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 450068 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199909 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 27300 msl bound upper : 29000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zau.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 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : enroute altitude change cruise : descent cruise : level |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : j30.airway |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zau.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : descent cruise : level cruise : enroute altitude change |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : ns.airway |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 14037 flight time type : 1100 |
| ASRS Report | 450068 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued alert |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance Airspace Structure Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Airspace Structure |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Cruising at FL290 we heard center (urgently) say, 'air carrier xyx, for traffic descend to FL240.' we acknowledged and began a descent at about FL273. Controller says, 'air carrier xyx climb now to FL290, you must have taken other air carrier xyx clearance.' we climbed back to FL290. No further discussion. I asked later if all was ok. The center said 'fine.' we believe we did hear 'air carrier' not 'other air carrier' for the altitude change. ZAU being typically busy, didn't acknowledge us. We should have forced an answer. The descent to a wrong way flight level at 100 NM near ord, while strange, is not unusual. We believe the controller was working 2 frequencys and did not hear our reply, questioned other air carrier and never heard us.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN MD80 FLC ACCEPTS A DSCNT CLRNC GIVEN TO ANOTHER ACR FLT WITH A SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGN 60 SE OR ODI, MN.
Narrative: CRUISING AT FL290 WE HEARD CTR (URGENTLY) SAY, 'ACR XYX, FOR TFC DSND TO FL240.' WE ACKNOWLEDGED AND BEGAN A DSCNT AT ABOUT FL273. CTLR SAYS, 'ACR XYX CLB NOW TO FL290, YOU MUST HAVE TAKEN OTHER ACR XYX CLRNC.' WE CLBED BACK TO FL290. NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. I ASKED LATER IF ALL WAS OK. THE CTR SAID 'FINE.' WE BELIEVE WE DID HEAR 'ACR' NOT 'OTHER ACR' FOR THE ALT CHANGE. ZAU BEING TYPICALLY BUSY, DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE US. WE SHOULD HAVE FORCED AN ANSWER. THE DSCNT TO A WRONG WAY FLT LEVEL AT 100 NM NEAR ORD, WHILE STRANGE, IS NOT UNUSUAL. WE BELIEVE THE CTLR WAS WORKING 2 FREQS AND DID NOT HEAR OUR REPLY, QUESTIONED OTHER ACR AND NEVER HEARD US.
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.