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GA pilot reported ATC clearance issues involving similar call signs and cited controller workload as a contributing factor.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1763547 |
| Time | |
| Date | 202009 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Approach |
| Route In Use | Vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Commercial |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40 Flight Crew Total 2500 Flight Crew Type 1000 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance |
Narrative:
Was being vectored for the GPS xx approach at ZZZ. Was a plane ahead with a similar call sign. Controller gave me a approach clearance for the ILS xx; I was expecting the GPS xx and the position sounded off. I turned to join the approach course as I was positioned for this; but then questioned the controller telling him I thought he meant to give the clearance to the plane ahead. He said he had but the plane ahead also stated they were given no clearance.the controller had given me; aircraft X; the clearance in error. I then turned back to my assigned heading and the controller then cleared the other plane. I never left my assigned altitude. The controller seemed over loaded throughout the flight. The current staffing at ATC seems to be straining their capacity with controllers covering many more frequencies which means pilots tend to step on each other as we can't hear the other frequencies.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: GA pilot reported ATC clearance issues involving similar call signs and cited Controller workload as a contributing factor.
Narrative: Was being vectored for the GPS XX approach at ZZZ. Was a plane ahead with a similar call sign. Controller gave me a approach clearance for the ILS XX; I was expecting the GPS XX and the position sounded off. I turned to join the approach course as I was positioned for this; but then questioned the Controller telling him I thought he meant to give the clearance to the plane ahead. He said he had but the plane ahead also stated they were given no clearance.The Controller had given me; Aircraft X; the clearance in error. I then turned back to my assigned heading and the Controller then cleared the other plane. I never left my assigned altitude. The Controller seemed over loaded throughout the flight. The current staffing at ATC seems to be straining their capacity with controllers covering many more frequencies which means pilots tend to step on each other as we can't hear the other frequencies.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.