Descent clearance given to wrong aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	80458
Time
Date	198801
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	80458
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

ZME gave large transport X a clearance to leave FL330, pilot discretion to FL240, which I acknowledged and the copilot who was flying at the same time selected FL240 on the mode control panel as per SOP. We were approximately FL315 when center again called and asked our altitude. I replied FL315 descending to FL240 pilot discretion. He advised us the clearance was for same company large transport Y. We started back for FL330 and at FL325 we were cleared again for FL240 pilot discretion. We descend with no problems and on the ground in men I called center and after reviewing the tapes they said we were correct and we had been cleared and were correct in starting our descent. Large transport Y said they also received a pilot discretion to FL240 which we did not remember hearing, so it was nice to know that we did not violate an altitude. I do not know the controller's situation so I cannot comment on what can be done to help situations such as this. Our procedure of one on the radio and the other operating the altitude selector helps some to resolve errors.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DESCENT CLRNC GIVEN TO WRONG ACFT.

Narrative: ZME GAVE LGT X A CLRNC TO LEAVE FL330, PLT DISCRETION TO FL240, WHICH I ACKNOWLEDGED AND THE COPLT WHO WAS FLYING AT THE SAME TIME SELECTED FL240 ON THE MODE CTL PANEL AS PER SOP. WE WERE APPROX FL315 WHEN CENTER AGAIN CALLED AND ASKED OUR ALT. I REPLIED FL315 DSNDING TO FL240 PLT DISCRETION. HE ADVISED US THE CLRNC WAS FOR SAME COMPANY LGT Y. WE STARTED BACK FOR FL330 AND AT FL325 WE WERE CLRED AGAIN FOR FL240 PLT DISCRETION. WE DSND WITH NO PROBS AND ON THE GND IN MEN I CALLED CENTER AND AFTER REVIEWING THE TAPES THEY SAID WE WERE CORRECT AND WE HAD BEEN CLRED AND WERE CORRECT IN STARTING OUR DSCNT. LGT Y SAID THEY ALSO RECEIVED A PLT DISCRETION TO FL240 WHICH WE DID NOT REMEMBER HEARING, SO IT WAS NICE TO KNOW THAT WE DID NOT VIOLATE AN ALT. I DO NOT KNOW THE CTLR'S SITUATION SO I CANNOT COMMENT ON WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP SITUATIONS SUCH AS THIS. OUR PROC OF ONE ON THE RADIO AND THE OTHER OPERATING THE ALT SELECTOR HELPS SOME TO RESOLVE ERRORS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.