Altitude excursion similar call sign.

Attributes
ACN	161377
Time
Date	199010
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : abq
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 21000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6200 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	161377
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
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Our flight # was air carrier hji (from silver city, NM to abq). We were level at FL210 when ATC advised us to descend to 16000'. We began our flight on a descent at 500 FPM. At approximately 19500' ZAB asked what air carrier hji altitude was. I responded out of 19500' for 16000'. Center advised (us at this time) that the descent clearance was for shuttle cji not hji. I advised ATC that we had called 'air carrier hji out of FL210 for 16000' abq altimeter.' ZAB responded say that he had heard the report that it was garbled though, and then cleared hji to a lower altitude. I believe ZAB should have advised both air carrier cji and bji and hji that there were similar call signs on frequency when we checked in initially. Center should have questioned either hji or cji on their readback if it was garbled, not let it go. I will be more alert and alert our company to this problem of such similar call signs, all going into abq at this one time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT EXCURSION SIMILAR CALL SIGN.

Narrative: OUR FLT # WAS ACR HJI (FROM SILVER CITY, NM TO ABQ). WE WERE LEVEL AT FL210 WHEN ATC ADVISED US TO DSND TO 16000'. WE BEGAN OUR FLT ON A DSNT AT 500 FPM. AT APPROX 19500' ZAB ASKED WHAT ACR HJI ALT WAS. I RESPONDED OUT OF 19500' FOR 16000'. CENTER ADVISED (US AT THIS TIME) THAT THE DSNT CLRNC WAS FOR SHUTTLE CJI NOT HJI. I ADVISED ATC THAT WE HAD CALLED 'ACR HJI OUT OF FL210 FOR 16000' ABQ ALTIMETER.' ZAB RESPONDED SAY THAT HE HAD HEARD THE RPT THAT IT WAS GARBLED THOUGH, AND THEN CLRED HJI TO A LOWER ALT. I BELIEVE ZAB SHOULD HAVE ADVISED BOTH ACR CJI AND BJI AND HJI THAT THERE WERE SIMILAR CALL SIGNS ON FREQ WHEN WE CHKED IN INITIALLY. CENTER SHOULD HAVE QUESTIONED EITHER HJI OR CJI ON THEIR READBACK IF IT WAS GARBLED, NOT LET IT GO. I WILL BE MORE ALERT AND ALERT OUR COMPANY TO THIS PROB OF SUCH SIMILAR CALL SIGNS, ALL GOING INTO ABQ AT THIS ONE TIME.

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.