Air carrier medium large transport altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude in response ...

Attributes
ACN	192640
Time
Date	199110
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11700 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 196 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 604
ASRS Report	192640
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation Operational Deviation other

Narrative:

While inbound to dtw metropolitan airport from kalamazoo, mi, on company XX50 there were 2 other company flts: company XX53 and company X50 with similar sounding call signs as ours. While the captain was contacting base operations, dtw gave a clearance to descend to 3000 ft and turn to heading 030 degree, to what sounded like XX50. I read back the clearance but was cut out by other aircraft transmissions. The controller said for all other aircraft to standby and only XX50 respond. I read back the clearance and proceeded to descend and turn. After a couple of 100 ft descent (and a frequency change) another controller told us to level at 11000 ft and change the direction of turn. Apparently we were following a clearance for an aircraft of a similar sounding call sign. I did read back the original clearance with our own call sign, however. There was much confusion with similar call signs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG ALTDEV EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT IN RESPONSE TO WRONG CALL SIGN.

Narrative: WHILE INBOUND TO DTW METRO ARPT FROM KALAMAZOO, MI, ON COMPANY XX50 THERE WERE 2 OTHER COMPANY FLTS: COMPANY XX53 AND COMPANY X50 WITH SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS AS OURS. WHILE THE CAPT WAS CONTACTING BASE OPS, DTW GAVE A CLRNC TO DSND TO 3000 FT AND TURN TO HDG 030 DEG, TO WHAT SOUNDED LIKE XX50. I READ BACK THE CLRNC BUT WAS CUT OUT BY OTHER ACFT TRANSMISSIONS. THE CTLR SAID FOR ALL OTHER ACFT TO STANDBY AND ONLY XX50 RESPOND. I READ BACK THE CLRNC AND PROCEEDED TO DSND AND TURN. AFTER A COUPLE OF 100 FT DSCNT (AND A FREQ CHANGE) ANOTHER CTLR TOLD US TO LEVEL AT 11000 FT AND CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF TURN. APPARENTLY WE WERE FOLLOWING A CLRNC FOR AN ACFT OF A SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGN. I DID READ BACK THE ORIGINAL CLRNC WITH OUR OWN CALL SIGN, HOWEVER. THERE WAS MUCH CONFUSION WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGNS.

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.

Air carrier medium large transport altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude in response to wrong call sign.