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B757-200 crew was issued a clearance for descent, by the ZDC radar controller, meant for a same company's similar call sign aircraft.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 613896 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200404 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zdc.artcc |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 37000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc tower : pdk.tower |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B757-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : enroute altitude change cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 13500 flight time type : 10000 |
| ASRS Report | 613896 |
| 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 : far |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance Company |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
Narrative:
In cruise flight to jfk at FL370, ZDC cleared us to FL350. As PNF, I answered clearance, including call sign, and we descended to FL350. Less than 5 mins later, ZDC called to say we had 'taken our company traffic's altitude, climb to FL370.' no traffic conflicts were reported by ATC or noted on TCASII. Whether ZDC gave the clearance to the wrong airplane or both pilots heard the clearance wrong is still not clear. A major factor in this possible confusion is our company's insistence on using similar call signs for flts.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B757-200 CREW WAS ISSUED A CLRNC FOR DSCNT, BY THE ZDC RADAR CTLR, MEANT FOR A SAME COMPANY'S SIMILAR CALL SIGN ACFT.
Narrative: IN CRUISE FLT TO JFK AT FL370, ZDC CLRED US TO FL350. AS PNF, I ANSWERED CLRNC, INCLUDING CALL SIGN, AND WE DSNDED TO FL350. LESS THAN 5 MINS LATER, ZDC CALLED TO SAY WE HAD 'TAKEN OUR COMPANY TFC'S ALT, CLB TO FL370.' NO TFC CONFLICTS WERE RPTED BY ATC OR NOTED ON TCASII. WHETHER ZDC GAVE THE CLRNC TO THE WRONG AIRPLANE OR BOTH PLTS HEARD THE CLRNC WRONG IS STILL NOT CLR. A MAJOR FACTOR IN THIS POSSIBLE CONFUSION IS OUR COMPANY'S INSISTENCE ON USING SIMILAR CALL SIGNS FOR FLTS.
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.