B737-800 crew took an altitude clearance for a similar call sign aircraft in ZID class east airspace...

Attributes
ACN	513490
Time
Date	200106
Day	Mon
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : shb.vor
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15600 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mem.tower
Make Model Name	B737-800
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : tarne
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 6300 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	513490
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic controller : issued new clearance
Miss Distance	horizontal : 30000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

After deviating for WX, air carrier X (us) resumed tarne 1 arrival into cvg. Just after passing shelbyville on the arrival, crew of air carrier X heard ZID direction to descend to 14000 ft MSL. We (air carrier X) responded that we were departing 17000 ft for 14000 ft. Passing 15600 ft, ZID asked us our current altitude and we responded passing 15600 ft en route to 14000 ft. ZID directed us to level at 15000 ft then informed us that the original descent clearance was for another aircraft, air carrier Y. We obtained a visual on air carrier Y passing outside 5 NM and 1000 ft vertical separation. Very busy communications may have contributed. Arriving aircraft on tarne 1 into cvg were deviating on the arrival to avoid WX buildups.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-800 CREW TOOK AN ALT CLRNC FOR A SIMILAR CALL SIGN ACFT IN ZID CLASS E AIRSPACE.

Narrative: AFTER DEVIATING FOR WX, ACR X (US) RESUMED TARNE 1 ARR INTO CVG. JUST AFTER PASSING SHELBYVILLE ON THE ARR, CREW OF ACR X HEARD ZID DIRECTION TO DSND TO 14000 FT MSL. WE (ACR X) RESPONDED THAT WE WERE DEPARTING 17000 FT FOR 14000 FT. PASSING 15600 FT, ZID ASKED US OUR CURRENT ALT AND WE RESPONDED PASSING 15600 FT ENRTE TO 14000 FT. ZID DIRECTED US TO LEVEL AT 15000 FT THEN INFORMED US THAT THE ORIGINAL DSCNT CLRNC WAS FOR ANOTHER ACFT, ACR Y. WE OBTAINED A VISUAL ON ACR Y PASSING OUTSIDE 5 NM AND 1000 FT VERT SEPARATION. VERY BUSY COMS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED. ARRIVING ACFT ON TARNE 1 INTO CVG WERE DEVIATING ON THE ARR TO AVOID WX BUILDUPS.

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.