Sound alike fixes cause a missed altitude restr.

Attributes
ACN	283588
Time
Date	199409
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : iah
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star enroute airway : zhu
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	283588
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 1
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared to cross 'bumby' on the arrival at 10000 ft. I was descending pilots discretion out of FL280 to 240 when clearance was received. We were in light to moderate chop so I kept it coming down looking for smooth air. I looked down at the arrival plate on the yoke and spotted 'genbe.' they sounded identical in my mind and I announced we needed to be at 10000 ft and 250 KTS by 23 DME. The captain was getting ATIS and involved with the checklist and missed my announcement. The name of 1 of these fixes needs to be changed. Over the radio they sound just alike.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SOUND ALIKE FIXES CAUSE A MISSED ALT RESTR.

Narrative: CLRED TO CROSS 'BUMBY' ON THE ARR AT 10000 FT. I WAS DSNDING PLTS DISCRETION OUT OF FL280 TO 240 WHEN CLRNC WAS RECEIVED. WE WERE IN LIGHT TO MODERATE CHOP SO I KEPT IT COMING DOWN LOOKING FOR SMOOTH AIR. I LOOKED DOWN AT THE ARR PLATE ON THE YOKE AND SPOTTED 'GENBE.' THEY SOUNDED IDENTICAL IN MY MIND AND I ANNOUNCED WE NEEDED TO BE AT 10000 FT AND 250 KTS BY 23 DME. THE CAPT WAS GETTING ATIS AND INVOLVED WITH THE CHKLIST AND MISSED MY ANNOUNCEMENT. THE NAME OF 1 OF THESE FIXES NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. OVER THE RADIO THEY SOUND JUST ALIKE.

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.