 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
A B737-300 crew, on approach to ord, were given and responded to a clearance meant for another aircraft with a similar call sign.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 532538 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200112 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | intersection : deana |
| State Reference | IL |
| Altitude | msl single value : 2200 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : c90.tracon tower : bos.tower |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737-300 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : c90.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 3991 |
| ASRS Report | 532538 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : executed go around |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
Narrative:
On approach to runway 9R ord, 1 mi west of deana OM, approach control called 'air carrier X abcd O'hare.' we answered with 'air carrier X abcd' then the controller issued the following clearance: 'air carrier X abcd, turn right, maintain 180 KTS.' we acknowledged the clearance and complied. We had to wait 30 seconds or so to ask for an altitude, due to frequency congestion. When we were able to talk to ATC, it became apparent that he was unsure of our position. Once he had acquired us, we were given a climb to 5000 ft and vectors back to downwind for another approach. During this time we heard an air carrier X abdc on frequency. We believe that the controller transposed the last 2 digits and gave us the intended for air carrier X abdc. Due to the tone of his voice and our proximity to the airport, we complied with the clearance immediately and worked on clarification. The human factors issues appear to be similar call signs that I feel can be addressed by this airline and the controller apparently was upset that a call was missed by the other aircraft and in this situation, he misspoke the call sign with more urgency than may have been needed, causing what could have been a dangerous situation.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B737-300 CREW, ON APCH TO ORD, WERE GIVEN AND RESPONDED TO A CLRNC MEANT FOR ANOTHER ACFT WITH A SIMILAR CALL SIGN.
Narrative: ON APCH TO RWY 9R ORD, 1 MI W OF DEANA OM, APCH CTL CALLED 'ACR X ABCD O'HARE.' WE ANSWERED WITH 'ACR X ABCD' THEN THE CTLR ISSUED THE FOLLOWING CLRNC: 'ACR X ABCD, TURN R, MAINTAIN 180 KTS.' WE ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLRNC AND COMPLIED. WE HAD TO WAIT 30 SECONDS OR SO TO ASK FOR AN ALT, DUE TO FREQ CONGESTION. WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO TALK TO ATC, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT HE WAS UNSURE OF OUR POS. ONCE HE HAD ACQUIRED US, WE WERE GIVEN A CLB TO 5000 FT AND VECTORS BACK TO DOWNWIND FOR ANOTHER APCH. DURING THIS TIME WE HEARD AN ACR X ABDC ON FREQ. WE BELIEVE THAT THE CTLR TRANSPOSED THE LAST 2 DIGITS AND GAVE US THE INTENDED FOR ACR X ABDC. DUE TO THE TONE OF HIS VOICE AND OUR PROX TO THE ARPT, WE COMPLIED WITH THE CLRNC IMMEDIATELY AND WORKED ON CLARIFICATION. THE HUMAN FACTORS ISSUES APPEAR TO BE SIMILAR CALL SIGNS THAT I FEEL CAN BE ADDRESSED BY THIS AIRLINE AND THE CTLR APPARENTLY WAS UPSET THAT A CALL WAS MISSED BY THE OTHER ACFT AND IN THIS SIT, HE MISSPOKE THE CALL SIGN WITH MORE URGENCY THAN MAY HAVE BEEN NEEDED, CAUSING WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SIT.
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.