Mix up in flight numbers for clearance.

Attributes
ACN	143563
Time
Date	199004
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zdc
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc artcc : zdv
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	143563
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Dc center, female controller, gave a clearance to descend to FL240. We acknowledged leaving FL330 for FL240. Passing FL310 she asked us to maintain FL290. Then a male controller came on and stated that the clearance was for air carrier X AB18 -- our call sign was air carrier X C18.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MIX UP IN FLT NUMBERS FOR CLRNC.

Narrative: DC CENTER, FEMALE CTLR, GAVE A CLRNC TO DSND TO FL240. WE ACKNOWLEDGED LEAVING FL330 FOR FL240. PASSING FL310 SHE ASKED US TO MAINTAIN FL290. THEN A MALE CTLR CAME ON AND STATED THAT THE CLRNC WAS FOR ACR X AB18 -- OUR CALL SIGN WAS ACR X C18.

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.