Flight crew climbs through assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	576679
Time
Date	200303
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zny.artcc
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 25000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute airway : j80.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	576679
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were given a climb to our cruising altitude of FL260. As we were climbing, the controller informed us FL260 was choppy. The controller gave us FL240. We leveled off at FL240. We then heard the controller querying other flts about rides higher and that FL280 was smooth. Our flight number was #ab. A transmission for flight #ab to climb to FL280 was issued which we acknowledged. No correction to the readback was given. Apparently, the call was meant for air carrier Y flight #cdab, but was apparently truncated. Since the controller did not correct our readback, we started a climb to FL280. At FL260, the controller asked if we were going to maintain FL240 thinking we had not heard her initial change of altitude from FL260 to FL240. We explained that we had read back FL280. The controller asked us to descend to FL240. No conflict was noted. This event occurred 11 hours into a 12 hour duty day. With similar call signs on frequency, it is important to be extremely vigilant. However, we were not informed of the similar call sign on check-in with the center.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW CLBS THROUGH ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN A CLB TO OUR CRUISING ALT OF FL260. AS WE WERE CLBING, THE CTLR INFORMED US FL260 WAS CHOPPY. THE CTLR GAVE US FL240. WE LEVELED OFF AT FL240. WE THEN HEARD THE CTLR QUERYING OTHER FLTS ABOUT RIDES HIGHER AND THAT FL280 WAS SMOOTH. OUR FLT NUMBER WAS #AB. A XMISSION FOR FLT #AB TO CLB TO FL280 WAS ISSUED WHICH WE ACKNOWLEDGED. NO CORRECTION TO THE READBACK WAS GIVEN. APPARENTLY, THE CALL WAS MEANT FOR ACR Y FLT #CDAB, BUT WAS APPARENTLY TRUNCATED. SINCE THE CTLR DID NOT CORRECT OUR READBACK, WE STARTED A CLB TO FL280. AT FL260, THE CTLR ASKED IF WE WERE GOING TO MAINTAIN FL240 THINKING WE HAD NOT HEARD HER INITIAL CHANGE OF ALT FROM FL260 TO FL240. WE EXPLAINED THAT WE HAD READ BACK FL280. THE CTLR ASKED US TO DSND TO FL240. NO CONFLICT WAS NOTED. THIS EVENT OCCURRED 11 HRS INTO A 12 HR DUTY DAY. WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGNS ON FREQ, IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE EXTREMELY VIGILANT. HOWEVER, WE WERE NOT INFORMED OF THE SIMILAR CALL SIGN ON CHK-IN WITH THE CTR.

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.