Narrative:

On kewr runway 22 SID invalid departure information was uplinked via ACARS. I.e., 2000 ft level off, instead of SID altitude of 5000 ft, incorrect transponder squawk and departure control frequency. The error was discovered when we finally got in contact with ZNY. ZNY questioned us as to our level off altitude and incorrect squawk. We continued to the correct altitude and ATC assigned heading to departure route. On further investigation we found that ACARS had uplinked the previous leg's departure procedures (6 hours prior) to our flight xxy out of kewr. How the previous departure was uplinked to our flight when the correct flight number, and departure/arrival stations were programmed is still unknown at this time. Corrective actions at this time are to make the company aware of the possibility that this can happen and allow additional time and attention to check any uplinked ACARS data. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the pre-departure clearance received was addressed to the correct aircraft but the crew didn't notice that it was addressed to their previous flight number. Reporter has tried since then but has been unable to cause this incident to repeat itself. He can't explain why the old, obsolete flight plan was forwarded to their aircraft.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT SQUAWKED THE WRONG XPONDER CODE AND LEVELED OFF AT THE WRONG ALT WHEN THE WRONG FLT PLAN WAS UPLINKED TO THEIR ACARS.

Narrative: ON KEWR RWY 22 SID INVALID DEP INFO WAS UPLINKED VIA ACARS. I.E., 2000 FT LEVEL OFF, INSTEAD OF SID ALT OF 5000 FT, INCORRECT XPONDER SQUAWK AND DEP CTL FREQ. THE ERROR WAS DISCOVERED WHEN WE FINALLY GOT IN CONTACT WITH ZNY. ZNY QUESTIONED US AS TO OUR LEVEL OFF ALT AND INCORRECT SQUAWK. WE CONTINUED TO THE CORRECT ALT AND ATC ASSIGNED HDG TO DEP RTE. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION WE FOUND THAT ACARS HAD UPLINKED THE PREVIOUS LEG'S DEP PROCS (6 HRS PRIOR) TO OUR FLT XXY OUT OF KEWR. HOW THE PREVIOUS DEP WAS UPLINKED TO OUR FLT WHEN THE CORRECT FLT NUMBER, AND DEP/ARR STATIONS WERE PROGRAMMED IS STILL UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS AT THIS TIME ARE TO MAKE THE COMPANY AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN AND ALLOW ADDITIONAL TIME AND ATTN TO CHK ANY UPLINKED ACARS DATA. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE PRE-DEP CLRNC RECEIVED WAS ADDRESSED TO THE CORRECT ACFT BUT THE CREW DIDN'T NOTICE THAT IT WAS ADDRESSED TO THEIR PREVIOUS FLT NUMBER. RPTR HAS TRIED SINCE THEN BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CAUSE THIS INCIDENT TO REPEAT ITSELF. HE CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY THE OLD, OBSOLETE FLT PLAN WAS FORWARDED TO THEIR ACFT.

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.