Possible airborne conflict and less than standard separation due to call sign mixup.

Attributes
ACN	140555
Time
Date	199003
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lfd airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors enroute airway : v30
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other 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 : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 19000 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	140555
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 280 flight time total : 14900
ASRS Report	140553
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 42000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Very heavy traffic in center sector for approach corridors into dtw. Level 12000', controller gave us heading 340 degrees. (Our flight air carrier xx was heading 127 degree on arwy.) after turn completed controller asked our heading. We said 340 degrees assigned. He gave us immediate climb to 13000' and heading 270 degrees, at same time air carrier xx air carrier xy air carrier xz were on frequency. I am sure controller gave the 340 degree heading to wrong call sign, as both pilots looked at each other when given the 340 degree heading. We both heard our call sing. Too many like flight #'south.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POSSIBLE AIRBORNE CONFLICT AND LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION DUE TO CALL SIGN MIXUP.

Narrative: VERY HEAVY TFC IN CENTER SECTOR FOR APCH CORRIDORS INTO DTW. LEVEL 12000', CTLR GAVE US HDG 340 DEGS. (OUR FLT ACR XX WAS HDG 127 DEG ON ARWY.) AFTER TURN COMPLETED CTLR ASKED OUR HDG. WE SAID 340 DEGS ASSIGNED. HE GAVE US IMMEDIATE CLB TO 13000' AND HDG 270 DEGS, AT SAME TIME ACR XX ACR XY ACR XZ WERE ON FREQ. I AM SURE CTLR GAVE THE 340 DEG HDG TO WRONG CALL SIGN, AS BOTH PLTS LOOKED AT EACH OTHER WHEN GIVEN THE 340 DEG HDG. WE BOTH HEARD OUR CALL SING. TOO MANY LIKE FLT #'S.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.