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C560 flight crew climbs above assigned altitude because of confusion with similar call signs with N90 TRACON.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 616653 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200405 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : mmu.airport |
| State Reference | NJ |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 6000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : n90.tracon tower : luk.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : corporate |
| Make Model Name | Citation V |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | departure sid : morristown |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : n90.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : corporate |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : corporate |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 3800 flight time type : 520 |
| ASRS Report | 616653 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : corporate |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 95 flight time total : 3700 |
| ASRS Report | 616530 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : became reoriented |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Jet xyz was scheduled flight from mmu to phl. Aircraft took off out of mmu on SID. Leveled aircraft at 2000 ft and went to departure control. Was climbed to 3000 ft and given heading. However, unaware to me, there was another business jet xyz also on frequency. I apparently answered a frequency change intended for the other business jet and went to the new frequency. I checked on the frequency with my call sign and the controller apparently thought I was the other business jet and told me to climb to 12000 ft. We initiated a climb and I believe reached 4300 ft when the other business jet pilot made both me and the controller aware of the mistake. We then stopped the climb and maintained 4000 ft and returned to the previous controller. He then issued me another frequency change and I went to the new frequency and was given a climb to 7000 ft. Flight continued without further incident. I believe the problem was caused by the similarity in call signs both ending in xyz. I have noticed in the past when controllers realize similar call signs on their frequency, they advise both aircraft to avoid confusion. My experience to hear our call sign and not knowing of the call sign of the other business jet xyz caused this error.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: C560 FLT CREW CLBS ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT BECAUSE OF CONFUSION WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGNS WITH N90 TRACON.
Narrative: JET XYZ WAS SCHEDULED FLT FROM MMU TO PHL. ACFT TOOK OFF OUT OF MMU ON SID. LEVELED ACFT AT 2000 FT AND WENT TO DEP CTL. WAS CLBED TO 3000 FT AND GIVEN HDG. HOWEVER, UNAWARE TO ME, THERE WAS ANOTHER BUSINESS JET XYZ ALSO ON FREQ. I APPARENTLY ANSWERED A FREQ CHANGE INTENDED FOR THE OTHER BUSINESS JET AND WENT TO THE NEW FREQ. I CHKED ON THE FREQ WITH MY CALL SIGN AND THE CTLR APPARENTLY THOUGHT I WAS THE OTHER BUSINESS JET AND TOLD ME TO CLB TO 12000 FT. WE INITIATED A CLB AND I BELIEVE REACHED 4300 FT WHEN THE OTHER BUSINESS JET PLT MADE BOTH ME AND THE CTLR AWARE OF THE MISTAKE. WE THEN STOPPED THE CLB AND MAINTAINED 4000 FT AND RETURNED TO THE PREVIOUS CTLR. HE THEN ISSUED ME ANOTHER FREQ CHANGE AND I WENT TO THE NEW FREQ AND WAS GIVEN A CLB TO 7000 FT. FLT CONTINUED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. I BELIEVE THE PROB WAS CAUSED BY THE SIMILARITY IN CALL SIGNS BOTH ENDING IN XYZ. I HAVE NOTICED IN THE PAST WHEN CTLRS REALIZE SIMILAR CALL SIGNS ON THEIR FREQ, THEY ADVISE BOTH ACFT TO AVOID CONFUSION. MY EXPERIENCE TO HEAR OUR CALL SIGN AND NOT KNOWING OF THE CALL SIGN OF THE OTHER BUSINESS JET XYZ CAUSED THIS ERROR.
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.