Read back clearance meant for a similar sounding a/north.

Attributes
ACN	90625
Time
Date	198807
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : aqn airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw tower : bna
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 10185 flight time type : 4020
ASRS Report	90625
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Our flight xyz was on the acton arrival into dfw at 11000' and 250 KTS. Between flato and creek intxns, we were handed off to an arrival controller who instructed us to turn left, 360 degrees and descend to 6000'. Passing 10000' we observed an medium large transport only momentarily as it approached from our 4 O'clock position, which appeared to be within 1000'. When we queried the controller, he stated that he was at 9000'. When we told him we had clearance to 6000', he said it was for another aircraft. The clearance we received and acknowledged was for xyd. The controllers must slow down and make sure that everyone understands the instructions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: READ BACK CLRNC MEANT FOR A SIMILAR SOUNDING A/N.

Narrative: OUR FLT XYZ WAS ON THE ACTON ARR INTO DFW AT 11000' AND 250 KTS. BTWN FLATO AND CREEK INTXNS, WE WERE HANDED OFF TO AN ARR CTLR WHO INSTRUCTED US TO TURN LEFT, 360 DEGS AND DSND TO 6000'. PASSING 10000' WE OBSERVED AN MLG ONLY MOMENTARILY AS IT APCHED FROM OUR 4 O'CLOCK POS, WHICH APPEARED TO BE WITHIN 1000'. WHEN WE QUERIED THE CTLR, HE STATED THAT HE WAS AT 9000'. WHEN WE TOLD HIM WE HAD CLRNC TO 6000', HE SAID IT WAS FOR ANOTHER ACFT. THE CLRNC WE RECEIVED AND ACKNOWLEDGED WAS FOR XYD. THE CTLRS MUST SLOW DOWN AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE INSTRUCTIONS.

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.