Air carrier accepts clearance meant for another aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	320710
Time
Date	199511
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : eno
State Reference	DE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 21000 msl bound upper : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 12000
ASRS Report	320710
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	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Accepted and read back clearance for company ab to descend from FL270 to cross 22 DME fix from rbv at 11000 ft. ZDC advised us to level off at FL210 in our descent and asked us what our last clearance was. I said that we had accepted and read back a clearance to cross 22 DME at 11000 ft with no challenge. ATC said clearance was issued for another aircraft (possibly company back course) no report of conflict or violation. My readback was apparently stepped on so the controller was unaware of our acceptance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR ACCEPTS CLRNC MEANT FOR ANOTHER ACFT.

Narrative: ACCEPTED AND READ BACK CLRNC FOR COMPANY AB TO DSND FROM FL270 TO CROSS 22 DME FIX FROM RBV AT 11000 FT. ZDC ADVISED US TO LEVEL OFF AT FL210 IN OUR DSCNT AND ASKED US WHAT OUR LAST CLRNC WAS. I SAID THAT WE HAD ACCEPTED AND READ BACK A CLRNC TO CROSS 22 DME AT 11000 FT WITH NO CHALLENGE. ATC SAID CLRNC WAS ISSUED FOR ANOTHER ACFT (POSSIBLY COMPANY BC) NO RPT OF CONFLICT OR VIOLATION. MY READBACK WAS APPARENTLY STEPPED ON SO THE CTLR WAS UNAWARE OF OUR ACCEPTANCE.

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.