Wrong call sign instructions to 1 of 2 arrs to dfw.

Attributes
ACN	430621
Time
Date	199903
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d10.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Route In Use	arrival star : oen4
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d10.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors arrival star : oen4
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 6900
ASRS Report	430621
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 5100 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	429840
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to original clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Cabin Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

While flying the glen rose 4 arrival route (jen 4) into dfw, the regional approach controller took us off normal routing to a heading of 015 degrees instead of the 039 degree radial of jen, and to descend to 5000 ft. Our call sign was air carrier XXX. Another company aircraft was in front of us and his call sign was air carrier xxy. First officer air carrier first officer and I clearly heard the controller tell 'air carrier XXX turn left to 015 degrees, descend and maintain 5000 ft.' after complying with this clearance the controller came back and said he needed us on the normal arrival route (jen 039 degrees at 6000 ft) and that the previous clearance was for air carrier xxy. We had already descended to 5500 ft and established on a 015 degree heading. As soon as possible, we returned to the normal arrival route at 6000 ft with no compromise of safety of any kind. I telephoned the controller from our flight operations and he said everything was fine with no safety violations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WRONG CALL SIGN INSTRUCTIONS TO 1 OF 2 ARRS TO DFW.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING THE GLEN ROSE 4 ARR RTE (JEN 4) INTO DFW, THE REGIONAL APCH CTLR TOOK US OFF NORMAL ROUTING TO A HDG OF 015 DEGS INSTEAD OF THE 039 DEG RADIAL OF JEN, AND TO DSND TO 5000 FT. OUR CALL SIGN WAS ACR XXX. ANOTHER COMPANY ACFT WAS IN FRONT OF US AND HIS CALL SIGN WAS ACR XXY. FO ACR FO AND I CLRLY HEARD THE CTLR TELL 'ACR XXX TURN L TO 015 DEGS, DSND AND MAINTAIN 5000 FT.' AFTER COMPLYING WITH THIS CLRNC THE CTLR CAME BACK AND SAID HE NEEDED US ON THE NORMAL ARR RTE (JEN 039 DEGS AT 6000 FT) AND THAT THE PREVIOUS CLRNC WAS FOR ACR XXY. WE HAD ALREADY DSNDED TO 5500 FT AND ESTABLISHED ON A 015 DEG HDG. ASAP, WE RETURNED TO THE NORMAL ARR RTE AT 6000 FT WITH NO COMPROMISE OF SAFETY OF ANY KIND. I TELEPHONED THE CTLR FROM OUR FLT OPS AND HE SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE WITH NO SAFETY VIOLATIONS.

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.