B727-200 on vectors to mem turns the wrong direction because of suspected stepped on xmissions.

Attributes
ACN	604191
Time
Date	200401
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mem.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mem.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 4500
ASRS Report	604191
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

I was in the radar pattern for runway 36L ILS at mem. We had just been turned into a left base. The controller told us he may have to run us through the localizer centerline. Seconds later, we heard 'turn to 020 degrees, cleared to intercept localizer runway 36L approach.' the first officer started the turn and rolled out on a heading of 020 degrees. The controller asked our heading and I responded with '020 degrees as assigned.' the controller told us the clearance had been for another aircraft and to turn left to 270 degrees to repos. The rest of the flight was uneventful. At no time did I see a conflict with other aircraft either visually or on the TCASII. I suspect there was a stepped on call sign in the original transmission to us.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727-200 ON VECTORS TO MEM TURNS THE WRONG DIRECTION BECAUSE OF SUSPECTED STEPPED ON XMISSIONS.

Narrative: I WAS IN THE RADAR PATTERN FOR RWY 36L ILS AT MEM. WE HAD JUST BEEN TURNED INTO A L BASE. THE CTLR TOLD US HE MAY HAVE TO RUN US THROUGH THE LOC CTRLINE. SECONDS LATER, WE HEARD 'TURN TO 020 DEGS, CLRED TO INTERCEPT LOC RWY 36L APCH.' THE FO STARTED THE TURN AND ROLLED OUT ON A HDG OF 020 DEGS. THE CTLR ASKED OUR HDG AND I RESPONDED WITH '020 DEGS AS ASSIGNED.' THE CTLR TOLD US THE CLRNC HAD BEEN FOR ANOTHER ACFT AND TO TURN L TO 270 DEGS TO REPOS. THE REST OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. AT NO TIME DID I SEE A CONFLICT WITH OTHER ACFT EITHER VISUALLY OR ON THE TCASII. I SUSPECT THERE WAS A STEPPED ON CALL SIGN IN THE ORIGINAL XMISSION TO US.

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.