A C560 crew, departing hpn, answered for and responded to another aircraft's clearance.

Attributes
ACN	545597
Time
Date	200204
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hpn.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 7500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Citation III, VI, VII
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 4300 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	545597
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During climb out out of hpn, there were 2 cpr aviation aircraft in the airspace with similar call signs. Ours was 'aircraft X.' during climb out, we heard 'aircraft X, cleared up to 11000 ft and direct cmk.' we responded, 'roger, aircraft X cleared to 11000 ft, direct carmel,' and started looking for carmel. We changed our altitude alerter to 11000 ft as instructed and then heard the other aircraft inquiring whether they were cleared to carmel and 11000 ft, and the controller said yes. We leveled the aircraft at 7500 ft because something wasn't right and then ATC said 'go to 8000 ft, aircraft X.' we maintained our 260 degree heading, climbed to 8000 ft and continued with no further problems. Our original clearance was up to 7000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C560 CREW, DEPARTING HPN, ANSWERED FOR AND RESPONDED TO ANOTHER ACFT'S CLRNC.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT OUT OF HPN, THERE WERE 2 CPR AVIATION ACFT IN THE AIRSPACE WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGNS. OURS WAS 'ACFT X.' DURING CLBOUT, WE HEARD 'ACFT X, CLRED UP TO 11000 FT AND DIRECT CMK.' WE RESPONDED, 'ROGER, ACFT X CLRED TO 11000 FT, DIRECT CARMEL,' AND STARTED LOOKING FOR CARMEL. WE CHANGED OUR ALT ALERTER TO 11000 FT AS INSTRUCTED AND THEN HEARD THE OTHER ACFT INQUIRING WHETHER THEY WERE CLRED TO CARMEL AND 11000 FT, AND THE CTLR SAID YES. WE LEVELED THE ACFT AT 7500 FT BECAUSE SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT AND THEN ATC SAID 'GO TO 8000 FT, ACFT X.' WE MAINTAINED OUR 260 DEG HDG, CLBED TO 8000 FT AND CONTINUED WITH NO FURTHER PROBS. OUR ORIGINAL CLRNC WAS UP TO 7000 FT.

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.