Confusion in call signs may have caused the reporter to descend out of sequence.

Attributes
ACN	278672
Time
Date	199408
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dbn
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28500 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	278672
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 600
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Cleared to descend from FL290 to FL220, began descent, then ATC requested us to 'descend immediately to FL220.' in descent, TCASII alerted with RA and climb advisory. Visually acquired target, climbed back to original altitude and reported RA and near miss. ATC may have confused 'us' with another company aircraft on frequency. Clear VFR day. I believe this was only an ATC mistake, but it rattled flight crew somewhat as crew scrambled to save voice recorder tape and mentally prepare to continue descent. Felt behind aircraft on subsequent approach with copilot new to aircraft and substantially behind aircraft throughout subsequent approach and ATC/tower/ground contacts.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CONFUSION IN CALL SIGNS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE RPTR TO DSND OUT OF SEQUENCE.

Narrative: CLRED TO DSND FROM FL290 TO FL220, BEGAN DSCNT, THEN ATC REQUESTED US TO 'DSND IMMEDIATELY TO FL220.' IN DSCNT, TCASII ALERTED WITH RA AND CLB ADVISORY. VISUALLY ACQUIRED TARGET, CLBED BACK TO ORIGINAL ALT AND RPTED RA AND NEAR MISS. ATC MAY HAVE CONFUSED 'US' WITH ANOTHER COMPANY ACFT ON FREQ. CLR VFR DAY. I BELIEVE THIS WAS ONLY AN ATC MISTAKE, BUT IT RATTLED FLC SOMEWHAT AS CREW SCRAMBLED TO SAVE VOICE RECORDER TAPE AND MENTALLY PREPARE TO CONTINUE DSCNT. FELT BEHIND ACFT ON SUBSEQUENT APCH WITH COPLT NEW TO ACFT AND SUBSTANTIALLY BEHIND ACFT THROUGHOUT SUBSEQUENT APCH AND ATC/TWR/GND CONTACTS.

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.