Air carrier large transport altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude in response to wron...

Attributes
ACN	95859
Time
Date	198810
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lrp
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 32000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mlb
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : j6
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	95859
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Ny center told us of another air carrier Y flight with similar call sign was on frequency. About 2 sectors later while at FL310 with a request for FL350 we thought we heard ATC clear us to FL350. We acknowledged with our call sign and 'out of FL310 for 350.' center replied we were blocked, say again. We acknowledged again 'out of 310 for 350.' passing FL320 other air carrier Y flight told center that someone else was accepting their clearance for FL350. I asked center to verify our assigned altitude. Center asked for our requested altitude and I said FL350. He cleared us to FL350. Busy centers in northeast have gotten into habit of dropping company names. When I heard flight like ours I assumed he meant us. Careful readback of clearance failed to help because of radio congestion.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT ALT DEVIATION EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT IN RESPONSE TO WRONG CALL SIGN.

Narrative: NY CENTER TOLD US OF ANOTHER ACR Y FLT WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGN WAS ON FREQ. ABOUT 2 SECTORS LATER WHILE AT FL310 WITH A REQUEST FOR FL350 WE THOUGHT WE HEARD ATC CLEAR US TO FL350. WE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH OUR CALL SIGN AND 'OUT OF FL310 FOR 350.' CENTER REPLIED WE WERE BLOCKED, SAY AGAIN. WE ACKNOWLEDGED AGAIN 'OUT OF 310 FOR 350.' PASSING FL320 OTHER ACR Y FLT TOLD CENTER THAT SOMEONE ELSE WAS ACCEPTING THEIR CLRNC FOR FL350. I ASKED CENTER TO VERIFY OUR ASSIGNED ALT. CENTER ASKED FOR OUR REQUESTED ALT AND I SAID FL350. HE CLRED US TO FL350. BUSY CENTERS IN NE HAVE GOTTEN INTO HABIT OF DROPPING COMPANY NAMES. WHEN I HEARD FLT LIKE OURS I ASSUMED HE MEANT US. CAREFUL READBACK OF CLRNC FAILED TO HELP BECAUSE OF RADIO CONGESTION.

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 large transport altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude in response to wrong call sign.