Narrative:

On downwind for ILS runway 21L at dtw, I was the PF, level at 7000 ft and heading 030 degrees. The detroit approach controller instructed a descent to 3000 ft and a left turn (base leg) 300 degrees. Not hearing the 'tail number' the controller stated, following the PNF acknowledgement of ATC instructions...I proceeded to inquire with PNF if the instructions were indeed for us. With an affirmative, I initiated the descent and the turn. Passing through 5500 ft, ATC instructed us to level at 5000 ft and make a tight right turn to 070 degrees then further right to 090 degrees. I was then wondering if those instructions were meant for aircraft Y as the PNF later wondered and noted to me. ATC later advised us to make a tight left turn to 250 degrees, later descending us to 3000 ft for ILS runway 21L 'visual.' we completed the approach and the day's flight without further incident. Contributing factors: 1) failure of PNF to correctly listen to (who-whom) instructions were directed. 2) failure of PF to ask ATC, not PNF, if instructions were for PF of that aircraft. Corrective actions: 1) implemented new flight department rule. If either PF or PNF does not hear the aircraft identify within ATC instructions, then PF or PNF will reconfirm with ATC whether in-flight or on the ground.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CPR JET CAPT RPTED EXECUTING INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY D21 WHICH WERE MEANT FOR ANOTHER ACFT WITH A SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGN.

Narrative: ON DOWNWIND FOR ILS RWY 21L AT DTW, I WAS THE PF, LEVEL AT 7000 FT AND HDG 030 DEGS. THE DETROIT APCH CTLR INSTRUCTED A DSCNT TO 3000 FT AND A L TURN (BASE LEG) 300 DEGS. NOT HEARING THE 'TAIL NUMBER' THE CTLR STATED, FOLLOWING THE PNF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ATC INSTRUCTIONS...I PROCEEDED TO INQUIRE WITH PNF IF THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE INDEED FOR US. WITH AN AFFIRMATIVE, I INITIATED THE DSCNT AND THE TURN. PASSING THROUGH 5500 FT, ATC INSTRUCTED US TO LEVEL AT 5000 FT AND MAKE A TIGHT R TURN TO 070 DEGS THEN FURTHER R TO 090 DEGS. I WAS THEN WONDERING IF THOSE INSTRUCTIONS WERE MEANT FOR ACFT Y AS THE PNF LATER WONDERED AND NOTED TO ME. ATC LATER ADVISED US TO MAKE A TIGHT L TURN TO 250 DEGS, LATER DSNDING US TO 3000 FT FOR ILS RWY 21L 'VISUAL.' WE COMPLETED THE APCH AND THE DAY'S FLT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 1) FAILURE OF PNF TO CORRECTLY LISTEN TO (WHO-WHOM) INSTRUCTIONS WERE DIRECTED. 2) FAILURE OF PF TO ASK ATC, NOT PNF, IF INSTRUCTIONS WERE FOR PF OF THAT ACFT. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: 1) IMPLEMENTED NEW FLT DEPT RULE. IF EITHER PF OR PNF DOES NOT HEAR THE ACFT IDENT WITHIN ATC INSTRUCTIONS, THEN PF OR PNF WILL RECONFIRM WITH ATC WHETHER INFLT OR ON THE GND.

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.