ZHU controller issues heading to wrong aircraft and a C750 conflicts with an E145.

Attributes
ACN	538887
Time
Date	200202
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : tnv.vortac
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	arrival star : struk
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu.artcc
Make Model Name	Citation X
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	538887
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 21000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

While en route from dfw to hou via the struk arrival, we were given a radar vector to fly heading 190 degrees. After established on the 190 heading, the ZHU controller then issued a new heading of 080 degrees. When rolling out on the 080 degree heading, we observed a TA at our 11:30 O'clock position and our same altitude of FL190. The traffic was more than 5 mi away. At the same time, the controller asked 'where are you going?' while the first officer responded that we were given the 080 degree heading, I observed a momentary RA which I responded with an approximately 500-600 ft climb. The controller gave us a new heading of 220 degrees. I immediately began the recovery from the RA and began the turn to 220 degrees. Shortly, a new controller gave us additional vectors and asked us to call ZHU when we landed. After landing, I called. Supervisor advised that this incident revealed that the controller did issue us the 080 degree heading in error. It was intended for another aircraft but the controller used our call sign.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZHU CTLR ISSUES HDG TO WRONG ACFT AND A C750 CONFLICTS WITH AN E145.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE FROM DFW TO HOU VIA THE STRUK ARR, WE WERE GIVEN A RADAR VECTOR TO FLY HDG 190 DEGS. AFTER ESTABLISHED ON THE 190 HDG, THE ZHU CTLR THEN ISSUED A NEW HDG OF 080 DEGS. WHEN ROLLING OUT ON THE 080 DEG HDG, WE OBSERVED A TA AT OUR 11:30 O'CLOCK POS AND OUR SAME ALT OF FL190. THE TFC WAS MORE THAN 5 MI AWAY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CTLR ASKED 'WHERE ARE YOU GOING?' WHILE THE FO RESPONDED THAT WE WERE GIVEN THE 080 DEG HDG, I OBSERVED A MOMENTARY RA WHICH I RESPONDED WITH AN APPROX 500-600 FT CLB. THE CTLR GAVE US A NEW HDG OF 220 DEGS. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN THE RECOVERY FROM THE RA AND BEGAN THE TURN TO 220 DEGS. SHORTLY, A NEW CTLR GAVE US ADDITIONAL VECTORS AND ASKED US TO CALL ZHU WHEN WE LANDED. AFTER LNDG, I CALLED. SUPVR ADVISED THAT THIS INCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE CTLR DID ISSUE US THE 080 DEG HDG IN ERROR. IT WAS INTENDED FOR ANOTHER ACFT BUT THE CTLR USED OUR CALL SIGN.

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.