Reporter flight acknowledged descent clearance and began descent. ATC advised clearance was for another aircraft with similar call sign but ATC had not acknowledged readback.

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Attributes
ACN	121368
Time
Date	198908
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw tower : hou
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 6350 flight time type : 3300
ASRS Report	121368
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	120681
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were air carrier flight xx from sjt to dfw. The approach controller was also talking to air carrier B xy. We were at 4000'. He told us to descend to 3000' and reduce speed to 170 KTS. We started down and then he said that the clearance was for xy which I think was about 4 mi west of us at about 8000'. I don't think there was a conflict. He accused us of taking the xy clearance, but we read the clearance back. I believe the controller got the two call signs air carrier xx and air carrier B xy mixed up. Supplemental information from acn 120681: at approximately 3300' approach called and said we were assigned 4000' but to remain at 3000'. We told the controller that we had read back 3000' and 190 KTS flight xx. This received no response.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPORTER FLT ACKNOWLEDGED DESCENT CLRNC AND BEGAN DESCENT. ATC ADVISED CLRNC WAS FOR ANOTHER ACFT WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGN BUT ATC HAD NOT ACKNOWLEDGED READBACK.

Narrative: WE WERE ACR FLT XX FROM SJT TO DFW. THE APCH CTLR WAS ALSO TALKING TO ACR B XY. WE WERE AT 4000'. HE TOLD US TO DSND TO 3000' AND REDUCE SPEED TO 170 KTS. WE STARTED DOWN AND THEN HE SAID THAT THE CLRNC WAS FOR XY WHICH I THINK WAS ABOUT 4 MI W OF US AT ABOUT 8000'. I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A CONFLICT. HE ACCUSED US OF TAKING THE XY CLRNC, BUT WE READ THE CLRNC BACK. I BELIEVE THE CTLR GOT THE TWO CALL SIGNS ACR XX AND ACR B XY MIXED UP. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM ACN 120681: AT APPROX 3300' APCH CALLED AND SAID WE WERE ASSIGNED 4000' BUT TO REMAIN AT 3000'. WE TOLD THE CTLR THAT WE HAD READ BACK 3000' AND 190 KTS FLT XX. THIS RECEIVED NO RESPONSE.

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.