A319 flight turned and descended in responding to similar call sign.

Attributes
ACN	534018
Time
Date	200201
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : atl.vortac
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10750 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 14000
ASRS Report	534018
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	534362
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

We were level at 11000 ft and told to expect landing on runway 26R at atl. Approach control gave us a 15 degree right turn from our 140 degree vector, and changed landing runway to runway 27L. We briefed new runway and complied. We then switched frequencys to new controller who told us to maintain our 155 degree heading. Next we were given left turn to 090 degree heading and a descent to 7000 ft. We acknowledged clearance and started turn and slow descent. After passing about 115 degrees, controller came on and said clearance was not for us. We immediately stopped descent and returned to 155 degree heading. Our lowest altitude was 10750 ft (250 ft low). We later heard controller giving vectors to what we thought was air carrier xy. We were air carrier yx. Both myself and first officer heard the initial clearance as air carrier yx, and acknowledged same. Other aircraft must have also acknowledged at same time, covering our transmission. No conflict was observed or reported and we were not informed of similar call signs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 FLT TURNED AND DSNDED IN RESPONDING TO SIMILAR CALL SIGN.

Narrative: WE WERE LEVEL AT 11000 FT AND TOLD TO EXPECT LNDG ON RWY 26R AT ATL. APCH CTL GAVE US A 15 DEG R TURN FROM OUR 140 DEG VECTOR, AND CHANGED LNDG RWY TO RWY 27L. WE BRIEFED NEW RWY AND COMPLIED. WE THEN SWITCHED FREQS TO NEW CTLR WHO TOLD US TO MAINTAIN OUR 155 DEG HDG. NEXT WE WERE GIVEN L TURN TO 090 DEG HDG AND A DSCNT TO 7000 FT. WE ACKNOWLEDGED CLRNC AND STARTED TURN AND SLOW DSCNT. AFTER PASSING ABOUT 115 DEGS, CTLR CAME ON AND SAID CLRNC WAS NOT FOR US. WE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED DSCNT AND RETURNED TO 155 DEG HDG. OUR LOWEST ALT WAS 10750 FT (250 FT LOW). WE LATER HEARD CTLR GIVING VECTORS TO WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS ACR XY. WE WERE ACR YX. BOTH MYSELF AND FO HEARD THE INITIAL CLRNC AS ACR YX, AND ACKNOWLEDGED SAME. OTHER ACFT MUST HAVE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED AT SAME TIME, COVERING OUR XMISSION. NO CONFLICT WAS OBSERVED OR RPTED AND WE WERE NOT INFORMED OF SIMILAR CALL SIGNS.

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.