Distracted by 2 other air carrier aircraft on frequency with similar call signs, air carrier large transport flight crew experience altitude overshoot in climb from ewr.

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Attributes
ACN	180142
Time
Date	199106
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6700
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : takeoff
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : takeoff
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 7500
ASRS Report	180142
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 2300 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	180143
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
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 other

Narrative:

Air carrier a flight xyz departed runway 22R at ewr for atl, normal takeoff. Air carrier B flight xyz was next for takeoff and air carrier C flight xyz was on departure frequency when we switched over. Initial altitude was 5000', and we were given a turn to 360 degrees and then 020 degrees for spacing. We asked controller if she was aware we were going to atl, because of headings. Clearance was given to 6000' and during heavy communications we were queried about who had asked for clarification. Deviated altitude by 500-700', but immediately went back to 6000', at which time the departure controller finally answered us by clearing us to 10000'. The controller never commented on turns, altitude assignments or the fact that 3 aircraft were on frequency with same identify. A serious and dangerous problem exists at ewr right now because of this--call sign confusion. Departure control does not have time enough to warn all aircraft because of high vol at this time of day. Supplemental information from acn 180143: controller cleared us to 10000' at approximately 6200'. Controller did not comment except to apologize for the turn sequencing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DISTRACTED BY 2 OTHER ACR ACFT ON FREQ WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGNS, ACR LGT FLT CREW EXPERIENCE ALT OVERSHOOT IN CLIMB FROM EWR.

Narrative: ACR A FLT XYZ DEPARTED RWY 22R AT EWR FOR ATL, NORMAL TKOF. ACR B FLT XYZ WAS NEXT FOR TKOF AND ACR C FLT XYZ WAS ON DEP FREQ WHEN WE SWITCHED OVER. INITIAL ALT WAS 5000', AND WE WERE GIVEN A TURN TO 360 DEGS AND THEN 020 DEGS FOR SPACING. WE ASKED CTLR IF SHE WAS AWARE WE WERE GOING TO ATL, BECAUSE OF HDGS. CLRNC WAS GIVEN TO 6000' AND DURING HEAVY COMS WE WERE QUERIED ABOUT WHO HAD ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION. DEVIATED ALT BY 500-700', BUT IMMEDIATELY WENT BACK TO 6000', AT WHICH TIME THE DEP CTLR FINALLY ANSWERED US BY CLRING US TO 10000'. THE CTLR NEVER COMMENTED ON TURNS, ALT ASSIGNMENTS OR THE FACT THAT 3 ACFT WERE ON FREQ WITH SAME IDENT. A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROB EXISTS AT EWR RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THIS--CALL SIGN CONFUSION. DEP CTL DOES NOT HAVE TIME ENOUGH TO WARN ALL ACFT BECAUSE OF HIGH VOL AT THIS TIME OF DAY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 180143: CTLR CLRED US TO 10000' AT APPROX 6200'. CTLR DID NOT COMMENT EXCEPT TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE TURN SEQUENCING.

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.