Air carrier widebody transport altitude deviation overshot during climb in response to wrong call si...

Attributes
ACN	84868
Time
Date	198803
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pjm
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : b520
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	84868
Person 2
Function	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Widebody transport type aircraft departed saint maarten for san juan, flight #xby. The copilot complained of VOR identify side tone, with limited ability to deselect, thus making communications more difficult. The flight departed saint maarten and climbed wbound to 16000'. Prior to reaching 16000' the crew received and acknowledged a clearance to 17000'. San juan center asked flight #xby to confirm our altitude. The crew confirmed the aircraft was level at 17000'. San juan center advised that we were assigned to 16000', that 'flight #xay' (not flight #xby) was assigned to 17000'. The crew was then advised there was no traffic conflict and to maintain 17000'. This similarity in call signs occurs daily on the saint maarten flight. Where the miscom took place it is difficult to say. However, if ATC would have advised that flight #xay was on the frequency or the company would not schedule flight #xay and flight #xby in the same airspace, communications could be easier.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT DURING CLIMB IN RESPONSE TO WRONG CALL SIGN.

Narrative: WDB TYPE ACFT DEPARTED SAINT MAARTEN FOR SAN JUAN, FLT #XBY. THE COPLT COMPLAINED OF VOR IDENT SIDE TONE, WITH LIMITED ABILITY TO DESELECT, THUS MAKING COMS MORE DIFFICULT. THE FLT DEPARTED SAINT MAARTEN AND CLBED WBOUND TO 16000'. PRIOR TO REACHING 16000' THE CREW RECEIVED AND ACKNOWLEDGED A CLRNC TO 17000'. SAN JUAN CENTER ASKED FLT #XBY TO CONFIRM OUR ALT. THE CREW CONFIRMED THE ACFT WAS LEVEL AT 17000'. SAN JUAN CENTER ADVISED THAT WE WERE ASSIGNED TO 16000', THAT 'FLT #XAY' (NOT FLT #XBY) WAS ASSIGNED TO 17000'. THE CREW WAS THEN ADVISED THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT AND TO MAINTAIN 17000'. THIS SIMILARITY IN CALL SIGNS OCCURS DAILY ON THE SAINT MAARTEN FLT. WHERE THE MISCOM TOOK PLACE IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY. HOWEVER, IF ATC WOULD HAVE ADVISED THAT FLT #XAY WAS ON THE FREQ OR THE COMPANY WOULD NOT SCHEDULE FLT #XAY AND FLT #XBY IN THE SAME AIRSPACE, COMS COULD BE EASIER.

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.

Air carrier widebody transport altitude deviation overshot during climb in response to wrong call sign.