Call sign confusion for ARTCC controller and commuter mdt flight crew in altitude assignment.

Attributes
ACN	132269
Time
Date	198912
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : den
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 3800 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	132269
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 2400 flight time type : 220
ASRS Report	132454
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot 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:

Level at FL230, I heard the last part of a transmission from center to us, telling us to descend to 16000'. Not knowing for sure, we paused for a few seconds. Replied to center '16000 flight xyz (our flight #).' center came back to flight xyz to descend 16000' I thought he was repeating a clearance to flight xyp. We remained at FL230 until center asked us what our altitude was. Then I knew I had missed the clearance to descend. We replied to center we were descending to 16000'. Monitor frequency, and if a questions is present in a clearance, ask.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CALL SIGN CONFUSION FOR ARTCC CTLR AND COMMUTER MDT FLT CREW IN ALT ASSIGNMENT.

Narrative: LEVEL AT FL230, I HEARD THE LAST PART OF A XMISSION FROM CENTER TO US, TELLING US TO DSND TO 16000'. NOT KNOWING FOR SURE, WE PAUSED FOR A FEW SECS. REPLIED TO CENTER '16000 FLT XYZ (OUR FLT #).' CENTER CAME BACK TO FLT XYZ TO DSND 16000' I THOUGHT HE WAS REPEATING A CLRNC TO FLT XYP. WE REMAINED AT FL230 UNTIL CENTER ASKED US WHAT OUR ALT WAS. THEN I KNEW I HAD MISSED THE CLRNC TO DSND. WE REPLIED TO CENTER WE WERE DSNDING TO 16000'. MONITOR FREQ, AND IF A QUESTIONS IS PRESENT IN A CLRNC, ASK.

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.