Approach controller gave descent and vector clearance to wrong aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	86504
Time
Date	198804
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 12500
ASRS Report	86504
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were on approach at O'hare heading north at 8000' on approach vector for landing 14R. Approach control said, 'turn to 350 degrees and descend to 4000'.' we acknowledge and commenced our turn and descent. Suddenly the controller said, 'level at 6000', your traffic is 12 O'clock crossing at 5000'.' we had already seen the traffic and there didn't appear to be any conflict. However, the controller had meant to give the turn and descent clearance to the aircraft ahead of us--which he then did. The rest of the approach and landing was routine. The controllers at O'hare are the best in the world. I believe this was an example of just too many aircraft in one place. The hours of X pm - Y pm are always busy at O'hare and at least this controller was sharp enough to catch his own mistake and correct it before any real conflict occurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR GAVE DESCENT AND VECTOR CLRNC TO WRONG ACFT.

Narrative: WE WERE ON APCH AT O'HARE HDG N AT 8000' ON APCH VECTOR FOR LNDG 14R. APCH CTL SAID, 'TURN TO 350 DEGS AND DSND TO 4000'.' WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND COMMENCED OUR TURN AND DSCNT. SUDDENLY THE CTLR SAID, 'LEVEL AT 6000', YOUR TFC IS 12 O'CLOCK XING AT 5000'.' WE HAD ALREADY SEEN THE TFC AND THERE DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY CONFLICT. HOWEVER, THE CTLR HAD MEANT TO GIVE THE TURN AND DSCNT CLRNC TO THE ACFT AHEAD OF US--WHICH HE THEN DID. THE REST OF THE APCH AND LNDG WAS ROUTINE. THE CTLRS AT O'HARE ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD. I BELIEVE THIS WAS AN EXAMPLE OF JUST TOO MANY ACFT IN ONE PLACE. THE HRS OF X PM - Y PM ARE ALWAYS BUSY AT O'HARE AND AT LEAST THIS CTLR WAS SHARP ENOUGH TO CATCH HIS OWN MISTAKE AND CORRECT IT BEFORE ANY REAL CONFLICT OCCURRED.

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.