ATC gives descent clearance to wrong aircraft in ZKC airspace.

Attributes
ACN	415740
Time
Date	199809
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vhp
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31500 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Fokker 100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	415740
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

110 NM southwest of vhp, ZKC cleared us to descend from FL330 to FL310 for traffic. We read back the clearance and initiated descent. At FL315 the controller asked us the altitude we were assigned. When we told him FL310 he told us to climb to FL330. He then descended a similar call sign aircraft to FL310 for traffic. He asked that aircraft if he had received the descent clearance earlier. They responded that was the first radio call they had received from him. We believe the controller descended us in error. He also had turned us 15 degrees to the left of our course for traffic. He handed off the other aircraft to another frequency. A couple of mins later he tried to hand off that same aircraft again. I asked if he was talking to us. He seemed unaware of our being on a heading for traffic and handed us off to another controller. I believe the controller confused us with the other call sign. I do not believe that a traffic conflict existed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC GIVES DSCNT CLRNC TO WRONG ACFT IN ZKC AIRSPACE.

Narrative: 110 NM SW OF VHP, ZKC CLRED US TO DSND FROM FL330 TO FL310 FOR TFC. WE READ BACK THE CLRNC AND INITIATED DSCNT. AT FL315 THE CTLR ASKED US THE ALT WE WERE ASSIGNED. WHEN WE TOLD HIM FL310 HE TOLD US TO CLB TO FL330. HE THEN DSNDED A SIMILAR CALL SIGN ACFT TO FL310 FOR TFC. HE ASKED THAT ACFT IF HE HAD RECEIVED THE DSCNT CLRNC EARLIER. THEY RESPONDED THAT WAS THE FIRST RADIO CALL THEY HAD RECEIVED FROM HIM. WE BELIEVE THE CTLR DSNDED US IN ERROR. HE ALSO HAD TURNED US 15 DEGS TO THE L OF OUR COURSE FOR TFC. HE HANDED OFF THE OTHER ACFT TO ANOTHER FREQ. A COUPLE OF MINS LATER HE TRIED TO HAND OFF THAT SAME ACFT AGAIN. I ASKED IF HE WAS TALKING TO US. HE SEEMED UNAWARE OF OUR BEING ON A HDG FOR TFC AND HANDED US OFF TO ANOTHER CTLR. I BELIEVE THE CTLR CONFUSED US WITH THE OTHER CALL SIGN. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A TFC CONFLICT EXISTED.

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.