Commuter light transport altitude deviation overshot during descent in response to wrong call sign.

Attributes
ACN	143173
Time
Date	199004
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bpr
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9500 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	143173
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 260 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	143290
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While under the control of ZFW, approximately 30 mi northeast of the bridgeport VOR (corner post for the boids 1 arrival), we were assigned by center the altitude of 10000'. There were 2 aircraft on frequency with similar sounding call signs. (Our call sign was air carrier Q cdf.) while we were en route to our assigned altitude of 10000', we received a partially garbled transmission: '...??? Ddf cross boids at 6000.' as the PNF, I reached for the hand-held microphone and stood by to reply, unsure who the call was meant for. At this time, air carrier M ddf replied and read back the clearance. Center did not respond after air carrier M's readback, so I was assured that the call was not meant for air carrier Q cdf. The captain assumed that I read back the clearance and inserted 6000' into the altitude preselect on the autoplt. While passing through 10500' at about 2500 FPM, I noticed the preselect at 6000' and asked the captain if I missed a call. The captain, realizing that 6000' was not meant for us, attempted to level off at 10000'. Due to our high descent rate, we hit 9500' while trying to transition back to 10000'.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER LTT ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT DURING DESCENT IN RESPONSE TO WRONG CALL SIGN.

Narrative: WHILE UNDER THE CTL OF ZFW, APPROX 30 MI NE OF THE BRIDGEPORT VOR (CORNER POST FOR THE BOIDS 1 ARR), WE WERE ASSIGNED BY CENTER THE ALT OF 10000'. THERE WERE 2 ACFT ON FREQ WITH SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS. (OUR CALL SIGN WAS ACR Q CDF.) WHILE WE WERE ENRTE TO OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF 10000', WE RECEIVED A PARTIALLY GARBLED XMISSION: '...??? DDF CROSS BOIDS AT 6000.' AS THE PNF, I REACHED FOR THE HAND-HELD MIC AND STOOD BY TO REPLY, UNSURE WHO THE CALL WAS MEANT FOR. AT THIS TIME, ACR M DDF REPLIED AND READ BACK THE CLRNC. CENTER DID NOT RESPOND AFTER ACR M'S READBACK, SO I WAS ASSURED THAT THE CALL WAS NOT MEANT FOR ACR Q CDF. THE CAPT ASSUMED THAT I READ BACK THE CLRNC AND INSERTED 6000' INTO THE ALT PRESELECT ON THE AUTOPLT. WHILE PASSING THROUGH 10500' AT ABOUT 2500 FPM, I NOTICED THE PRESELECT AT 6000' AND ASKED THE CAPT IF I MISSED A CALL. THE CAPT, REALIZING THAT 6000' WAS NOT MEANT FOR US, ATTEMPTED TO LEVEL OFF AT 10000'. DUE TO OUR HIGH DSNT RATE, WE HIT 9500' WHILE TRYING TO TRANSITION BACK TO 10000'.

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.