Aircraft inbound to atl accepts clearance for another aircraft with a similar call sign.

Attributes
ACN	578994
Time
Date	200303
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a80.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a80.tracon
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	578994
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On downwind to runway 9R at atl, we were heading 270 degrees. There was considerable traffic at the time. We acknowledged a heading change to 350 degrees that was given to another aircraft with a similar call sign. The controller noticed our turn and instructed us to turn back left and descend to 3000 ft. I do not believe separation was ever lost. Similar call signs and heavy traffic contributed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT INBOUND TO ATL ACCEPTS CLRNC FOR ANOTHER ACFT WITH A SIMILAR CALL SIGN.

Narrative: ON DOWNWIND TO RWY 9R AT ATL, WE WERE HEADING 270 DEGS. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE TFC AT THE TIME. WE ACKNOWLEDGED A HDG CHANGE TO 350 DEGS THAT WAS GIVEN TO ANOTHER ACFT WITH A SIMILAR CALL SIGN. THE CTLR NOTICED OUR TURN AND INSTRUCTED US TO TURN BACK L AND DSND TO 3000 FT. I DO NOT BELIEVE SEPARATION WAS EVER LOST. SIMILAR CALL SIGNS AND HEAVY TFC CONTRIBUTED.

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.