Heading change given to wrong flight.

Attributes
ACN	87817
Time
Date	198805
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise 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 : 200 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	87817
Person 2
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

On vectors to phl airport. Controller told us to descend to 6000', after reaching 6000' to slow to 210 KTS. We were on heading about 110 degree, just before reaching 6000' controller told us to turn to heading 230 degree. When passing through 210 degree controller asked us where we were going? First officer told him that he had turned us to 230 degree. Controller then told us to turn back to 090 degree. After reaching 090 degree controller asked us our speed. First officer replied 220 slowing to 210 degree. We were company flight czc. The first officer and I discussed this. We were both sure he had told czc to turn to heading 230 degree which we did. Both of our heading bugs were set at 230 degree and we both distinctly remember the heading instruction. I believe the controller made an error either in sending us in the wrong direction, or (and it seems more likely) he got our flight # mixed up with another flight #, something which happens quite often. Also on the frequency were company wdc and company dwu and I believe another company flight. He was quite busy and sounded tired.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HEADING CHANGE GIVEN TO WRONG FLT.

Narrative: ON VECTORS TO PHL ARPT. CTLR TOLD US TO DSND TO 6000', AFTER REACHING 6000' TO SLOW TO 210 KTS. WE WERE ON HDG ABOUT 110 DEG, JUST BEFORE REACHING 6000' CTLR TOLD US TO TURN TO HDG 230 DEG. WHEN PASSING THROUGH 210 DEG CTLR ASKED US WHERE WE WERE GOING? F/O TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD TURNED US TO 230 DEG. CTLR THEN TOLD US TO TURN BACK TO 090 DEG. AFTER REACHING 090 DEG CTLR ASKED US OUR SPEED. F/O REPLIED 220 SLOWING TO 210 DEG. WE WERE COMPANY FLT CZC. THE F/O AND I DISCUSSED THIS. WE WERE BOTH SURE HE HAD TOLD CZC TO TURN TO HDG 230 DEG WHICH WE DID. BOTH OF OUR HDG BUGS WERE SET AT 230 DEG AND WE BOTH DISTINCTLY REMEMBER THE HDG INSTRUCTION. I BELIEVE THE CTLR MADE AN ERROR EITHER IN SENDING US IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, OR (AND IT SEEMS MORE LIKELY) HE GOT OUR FLT # MIXED UP WITH ANOTHER FLT #, SOMETHING WHICH HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN. ALSO ON THE FREQ WERE COMPANY WDC AND COMPANY DWU AND I BELIEVE ANOTHER COMPANY FLT. HE WAS QUITE BUSY AND SOUNDED TIRED.

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.