Flight crew misinterpreted a climb clearance and leveled off 1000 ft high.

Attributes
ACN	489140
Time
Date	200010
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zme.artcc
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl single value : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other Other
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 : 210 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 2400
ASRS Report	489140
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	489591
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Copilot was flying aircraft, autoplt engaged. We were level at 17000 ft. ZME cleared us to FL190. I acknowledged with my call sign and the readback of the clearance. The copilot entered 19000 ft on the altitude select and in the FMS. I confirmed visually and aurally the selection and we climbed to 19000 ft. Upon reaching, center called and asked us to say altitude. I stated 'FL190, as cleared.' he said you were cleared to FL180, no problem, and gave us a descent clearance. I told him we had read back (and both of us heard), FL190. Center stated he thought that was the other air carrier. That really made no sense as the call signs were not similar and my readback was made immediately after the clearance was received and was made in strict accordance to the aim recommendation of call sign first then readback of the clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC MISINTERPRETED A CLB CLRNC AND LEVELED OFF 1000 FT HIGH.

Narrative: COPLT WAS FLYING ACFT, AUTOPLT ENGAGED. WE WERE LEVEL AT 17000 FT. ZME CLRED US TO FL190. I ACKNOWLEDGED WITH MY CALL SIGN AND THE READBACK OF THE CLRNC. THE COPLT ENTERED 19000 FT ON THE ALT SELECT AND IN THE FMS. I CONFIRMED VISUALLY AND AURALLY THE SELECTION AND WE CLBED TO 19000 FT. UPON REACHING, CTR CALLED AND ASKED US TO SAY ALT. I STATED 'FL190, AS CLRED.' HE SAID YOU WERE CLRED TO FL180, NO PROB, AND GAVE US A DSCNT CLRNC. I TOLD HIM WE HAD READ BACK (AND BOTH OF US HEARD), FL190. CTR STATED HE THOUGHT THAT WAS THE OTHER ACR. THAT REALLY MADE NO SENSE AS THE CALL SIGNS WERE NOT SIMILAR AND MY READBACK WAS MADE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CLRNC WAS RECEIVED AND WAS MADE IN STRICT ACCORDANCE TO THE AIM RECOMMENDATION OF CALL SIGN FIRST THEN READBACK OF THE CLRNC.

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.