G-4 flight crew and a center controller have a disagreement as to who a clearance was for.

Attributes
ACN	514550
Time
Date	200106
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zny.artcc
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Gulfstream IV
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 5650 flight time type : 2300
ASRS Report	514550
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

In the 12TH hour of a 13 1/2 hour duty day, at 16000 ft, controller cleared our aircraft to FL450. Out of FL180 he cleared us again to 17000 ft. We told him we were through FL180, but would descend back to 17000 ft. He inquired why we had left 16000 ft. We told him that he had already cleared us to FL450. He then cleared the intended aircraft to FL450. We were both tired but believe we were the aircraft that the controller originally cleared to FL450. Our flight plan was for FL390. It was filed by company as it was the second leg of an overseas flight. It was also for a wbound flight. Had we been more alert, we may have questioned the clearance. However, because of the extent of our duty we complied without question. We are both certain that our tail number was called for the clearance to climb.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: G-4 FLT CREW AND A CTR CTLR HAVE A DISAGREEMENT AS TO WHO A CLRNC WAS FOR.

Narrative: IN THE 12TH HR OF A 13 1/2 HR DUTY DAY, AT 16000 FT, CTLR CLRED OUR ACFT TO FL450. OUT OF FL180 HE CLRED US AGAIN TO 17000 FT. WE TOLD HIM WE WERE THROUGH FL180, BUT WOULD DSND BACK TO 17000 FT. HE INQUIRED WHY WE HAD LEFT 16000 FT. WE TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD ALREADY CLRED US TO FL450. HE THEN CLRED THE INTENDED ACFT TO FL450. WE WERE BOTH TIRED BUT BELIEVE WE WERE THE ACFT THAT THE CTLR ORIGINALLY CLRED TO FL450. OUR FLT PLAN WAS FOR FL390. IT WAS FILED BY COMPANY AS IT WAS THE SECOND LEG OF AN OVERSEAS FLT. IT WAS ALSO FOR A WBOUND FLT. HAD WE BEEN MORE ALERT, WE MAY HAVE QUESTIONED THE CLRNC. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE EXTENT OF OUR DUTY WE COMPLIED WITHOUT QUESTION. WE ARE BOTH CERTAIN THAT OUR TAIL NUMBER WAS CALLED FOR THE CLRNC TO CLB.

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.