An MD88 flight crew climbs to FL200 after making a reply to the wrong call sign southwest of djb, oh...

Attributes
ACN	469112
Time
Date	200004
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : djb.vortac
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	469112
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	469115
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : turbulence non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were level at 16000 ft after descending a number of times in an attempt to find an altitude with a smooth ride. The ride at 16000 ft then became light to occasional moderate turbulence and we gave ZOB a PIREP. He then cleared us to FL200. Both the captain and myself were absolutely sure we heard clearance to FL200 and read back the clearance with our complete call sign and proceeded to climb. At FL200 ZOB asked what altitude we were at and we said FL200. Center then said we were supposed to be at 16000 ft. We replied that he cleared us to FL200. He said he did not give us that clearance and he gave us immediate clearance to FL190. We read back the clearance and complied. The controller said we took another flight's clearance. However, there was absolutely no confusion or question in our minds that he issued that clearance to us as it was the culmination of our conversation with him about our flight conditions at 16000 ft and of course because we read back the clearance with our call sign.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD88 FLC CLBS TO FL200 AFTER MAKING A REPLY TO THE WRONG CALL SIGN SW OF DJB, OH.

Narrative: WE WERE LEVEL AT 16000 FT AFTER DSNDING A NUMBER OF TIMES IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND AN ALT WITH A SMOOTH RIDE. THE RIDE AT 16000 FT THEN BECAME LIGHT TO OCCASIONAL MODERATE TURB AND WE GAVE ZOB A PIREP. HE THEN CLRED US TO FL200. BOTH THE CAPT AND MYSELF WERE ABSOLUTELY SURE WE HEARD CLRNC TO FL200 AND READ BACK THE CLRNC WITH OUR COMPLETE CALL SIGN AND PROCEEDED TO CLB. AT FL200 ZOB ASKED WHAT ALT WE WERE AT AND WE SAID FL200. CTR THEN SAID WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AT 16000 FT. WE REPLIED THAT HE CLRED US TO FL200. HE SAID HE DID NOT GIVE US THAT CLRNC AND HE GAVE US IMMEDIATE CLRNC TO FL190. WE READ BACK THE CLRNC AND COMPLIED. THE CTLR SAID WE TOOK ANOTHER FLT'S CLRNC. HOWEVER, THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO CONFUSION OR QUESTION IN OUR MINDS THAT HE ISSUED THAT CLRNC TO US AS IT WAS THE CULMINATION OF OUR CONVERSATION WITH HIM ABOUT OUR FLT CONDITIONS AT 16000 FT AND OF COURSE BECAUSE WE READ BACK THE CLRNC WITH OUR CALL SIGN.

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.