Air carrier issued clearance to descend to 6000', then reassigned and cleared climb to 11000'.

Attributes
ACN	131562
Time
Date	198912
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : crl
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 7200
ASRS Report	131562
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While at 12000' in the vicinity of crl VOR, flight dhd received clearance from dtw approach control to descend to 6000'. We acknowledged the clearance and began our descent. At 10500' a supervisor advised that the call to flight dhd was intended for another flight and to climb to 11000'. Both pilots on flight dhd agree that the controller's initial call was for 'flight dhd.' we believe he intended for another aircraft to descend when he used our flight #. At any rate, we weren't corrected when we acknowledged the clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR ISSUED CLRNC TO DESCEND TO 6000', THEN REASSIGNED AND CLEARED CLIMB TO 11000'.

Narrative: WHILE AT 12000' IN THE VICINITY OF CRL VOR, FLT DHD RECEIVED CLRNC FROM DTW APCH CTL TO DSND TO 6000'. WE ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLRNC AND BEGAN OUR DSCNT. AT 10500' A SUPVR ADVISED THAT THE CALL TO FLT DHD WAS INTENDED FOR ANOTHER FLT AND TO CLB TO 11000'. BOTH PLTS ON FLT DHD AGREE THAT THE CTLR'S INITIAL CALL WAS FOR 'FLT DHD.' WE BELIEVE HE INTENDED FOR ANOTHER ACFT TO DSND WHEN HE USED OUR FLT #. AT ANY RATE, WE WEREN'T CORRECTED WHEN WE ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLRNC.

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.