C208B pilot has difficulty understanding ATC communications due to similar call signs.

Attributes
ACN	707032
Time
Date	200608
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : afw.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d10.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Caravan 1 208A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d10.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bonanza 35
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 5784 flight time type : 3800
ASRS Report	707032
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

During climb out from afw departure instructions are runway heading climb to 2000 ft; during handoff; checked into approach with xxfx out of ____ for 2000 ft. Controller was handling another frequency (unknown at the time) with a call sign of bonanza yyfx. When I checked in; I was given a new heading and altitude of climb to 3000 ft. Started the turn eastbound and started climb to 3000 ft. I began to question the vector and altitude I was initially given; but only to myself. I was unable to raise the controller because they were having trouble raising the bonanza. I was then given a new altitude and heading and a handoff to the next sector controller. The next controller received the bonanza (yyfx). I then at that time knew it was a bonanza. Both aircraft were en route nebound. During those initial moments with approach; I was aware of a similar call sign situation. Having 2 frequencys in use was also a hindrance which compounded the confusion of whether the instructions were for me or not.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C208B PLT HAS DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING ATC COMS DUE TO SIMILAR CALL SIGNS.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT FROM AFW DEP INSTRUCTIONS ARE RWY HDG CLB TO 2000 FT; DURING HDOF; CHKED INTO APCH WITH XXFX OUT OF ____ FOR 2000 FT. CTLR WAS HANDLING ANOTHER FREQ (UNKNOWN AT THE TIME) WITH A CALL SIGN OF BONANZA YYFX. WHEN I CHKED IN; I WAS GIVEN A NEW HDG AND ALT OF CLB TO 3000 FT. STARTED THE TURN EBOUND AND STARTED CLB TO 3000 FT. I BEGAN TO QUESTION THE VECTOR AND ALT I WAS INITIALLY GIVEN; BUT ONLY TO MYSELF. I WAS UNABLE TO RAISE THE CTLR BECAUSE THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE RAISING THE BONANZA. I WAS THEN GIVEN A NEW ALT AND HDG AND A HDOF TO THE NEXT SECTOR CTLR. THE NEXT CTLR RECEIVED THE BONANZA (YYFX). I THEN AT THAT TIME KNEW IT WAS A BONANZA. BOTH ACFT WERE ENRTE NEBOUND. DURING THOSE INITIAL MOMENTS WITH APCH; I WAS AWARE OF A SIMILAR CALL SIGN SITUATION. HAVING 2 FREQS IN USE WAS ALSO A HINDRANCE WHICH COMPOUNDED THE CONFUSION OF WHETHER THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE FOR ME OR NOT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.