ARTCC issues clearance to aircraft with similar call sign.

Attributes
ACN	451357
Time
Date	199910
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : druzz
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15500 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Jetstream 41
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	451357
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 3600 flight time type : 380
ASRS Report	451358
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Shortly after checking in with center, a clearance was issued to descend now and cross druzz intersection at 11000 ft. We read back the clearance and center acknowledged the readback. At 15500 ft, ATC asked us what altitude we were assigned. We responded with 11000 ft as assigned. We were then told the clearance was for air carrier Y xyz and to stop descent at 15000 ft. Air carrier Y xyz was then asked if they had received the clearance that we had read back. They responded that they were never issued that clearance. We believe this occurrence happened because ATC used our call sign with a similar sounding air carrier Y flight number. We were air carrier X yyz, they were air carrier Y xyz.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC ISSUES CLRNC TO ACFT WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGN.

Narrative: SHORTLY AFTER CHKING IN WITH CTR, A CLRNC WAS ISSUED TO DSND NOW AND CROSS DRUZZ INTXN AT 11000 FT. WE READ BACK THE CLRNC AND CTR ACKNOWLEDGED THE READBACK. AT 15500 FT, ATC ASKED US WHAT ALT WE WERE ASSIGNED. WE RESPONDED WITH 11000 FT AS ASSIGNED. WE WERE THEN TOLD THE CLRNC WAS FOR ACR Y XYZ AND TO STOP DSCNT AT 15000 FT. ACR Y XYZ WAS THEN ASKED IF THEY HAD RECEIVED THE CLRNC THAT WE HAD READ BACK. THEY RESPONDED THAT THEY WERE NEVER ISSUED THAT CLRNC. WE BELIEVE THIS OCCURRENCE HAPPENED BECAUSE ATC USED OUR CALL SIGN WITH A SIMILAR SOUNDING ACR Y FLT NUMBER. WE WERE ACR X YYZ, THEY WERE ACR Y XYZ.

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.