A320 descending for fll begins descent intended for aircraft with same flight number.

Attributes
ACN	607982
Time
Date	200402
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fll.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mia.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mia.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	607982
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 flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Our aircraft call sign was 'air carrier X abc' and we were given an ATC clearance from mia approach to descend to 4000 ft and to turn to heading. We replied 'air carrier X abc out of 7000 ft for 4000 ft and heading such and such.' as we passed 5500 ft approach asked us what altitude we were going to. We replied to 4000 ft assigned. They then stated that the call to descend was for air carrier Y abc, and told to go to 6000 ft. We made an immediate climb to 6000 ft. Then air carrier Y abc stated 'where do you want us to go?' in other words they had not responded to the original call, because ZMA actually gave it to air carrier X abc. No known traffic conflicts or TCASII warnings were noted. It was our firm belief that mia approach control gave us the clearance. No warnings were given about air carrier X abc and air carrier Y abc on the same frequency. The remainder of the flight was uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 DSNDING FOR FLL BEGINS DSCNT INTENDED FOR ACFT WITH SAME FLT NUMBER.

Narrative: OUR ACFT CALL SIGN WAS 'ACR X ABC' AND WE WERE GIVEN AN ATC CLRNC FROM MIA APCH TO DSND TO 4000 FT AND TO TURN TO HDG. WE REPLIED 'ACR X ABC OUT OF 7000 FT FOR 4000 FT AND HDG SUCH AND SUCH.' AS WE PASSED 5500 FT APCH ASKED US WHAT ALT WE WERE GOING TO. WE REPLIED TO 4000 FT ASSIGNED. THEY THEN STATED THAT THE CALL TO DSND WAS FOR ACR Y ABC, AND TOLD TO GO TO 6000 FT. WE MADE AN IMMEDIATE CLB TO 6000 FT. THEN ACR Y ABC STATED 'WHERE DO YOU WANT US TO GO?' IN OTHER WORDS THEY HAD NOT RESPONDED TO THE ORIGINAL CALL, BECAUSE ZMA ACTUALLY GAVE IT TO ACR X ABC. NO KNOWN TFC CONFLICTS OR TCASII WARNINGS WERE NOTED. IT WAS OUR FIRM BELIEF THAT MIA APCH CTL GAVE US THE CLRNC. NO WARNINGS WERE GIVEN ABOUT ACR X ABC AND ACR Y ABC ON THE SAME FREQ. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL.

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.