Narrative:

Shortly after being clrd to cross pivit at 11000' and 250 KTS, and being slowed to 280 KTS for des, we were changed to another approach control frequency. Upon initial contact, approach said to delete the speed at pivit. I inquired as to what speed they would like for xyz. Approach responded, 'xyz, slow to 230 K and des to 5000'.' I acknowledged. Later when descending through approximately 10500', approach asked my altitude and said, 'you were only clrd to 11000'.' a short discussion ensued and we leveled off at 10000'. Later I phoned the approach supervisor and was informed they were checking the tape. I called back later and the supervisor said, 'you were clrd to 5000', the controller mistook you for company yxz.' it is just human error, and luckily no harm was done. However, it could just as well been my error. But, I'm sure as a pilot, I would be fined or given disciplinary action by the FAA if it had been! My point is, we are all human, and we all make unintentional mistakes! Let us use the power of the government to stop flagrant misuse and violations of the law and rules, but not for simple human mistakes. I certainly don't want any fines for myself or any approach controller for a human error. That would serve no purpose! Both our time and efforts could be put to much better use.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR TRANSPOSED FLT NUMBERS OF SIMILAR A/N AND DESCENDED WRONG ACFT.

Narrative: SHORTLY AFTER BEING CLRD TO CROSS PIVIT AT 11000' AND 250 KTS, AND BEING SLOWED TO 280 KTS FOR DES, WE WERE CHANGED TO ANOTHER APCH CTL FREQ. UPON INITIAL CONTACT, APCH SAID TO DELETE THE SPD AT PIVIT. I INQUIRED AS TO WHAT SPD THEY WOULD LIKE FOR XYZ. APCH RESPONDED, 'XYZ, SLOW TO 230 K AND DES TO 5000'.' I ACKNOWLEDGED. LATER WHEN DSNDING THROUGH APPROX 10500', APCH ASKED MY ALT AND SAID, 'YOU WERE ONLY CLRD TO 11000'.' A SHORT DISCUSSION ENSUED AND WE LEVELED OFF AT 10000'. LATER I PHONED THE APCH SUPVR AND WAS INFORMED THEY WERE CHKING THE TAPE. I CALLED BACK LATER AND THE SUPVR SAID, 'YOU WERE CLRD TO 5000', THE CTLR MISTOOK YOU FOR COMPANY YXZ.' IT IS JUST HUMAN ERROR, AND LUCKILY NO HARM WAS DONE. HOWEVER, IT COULD JUST AS WELL BEEN MY ERROR. BUT, I'M SURE AS A PLT, I WOULD BE FINED OR GIVEN DISCIPLINARY ACTION BY THE FAA IF IT HAD BEEN! MY POINT IS, WE ARE ALL HUMAN, AND WE ALL MAKE UNINTENTIONAL MISTAKES! LET US USE THE POWER OF THE GOVERNMENT TO STOP FLAGRANT MISUSE AND VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW AND RULES, BUT NOT FOR SIMPLE HUMAN MISTAKES. I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT ANY FINES FOR MYSELF OR ANY APCH CTLR FOR A HUMAN ERROR. THAT WOULD SERVE NO PURPOSE! BOTH OUR TIME AND EFFORTS COULD BE PUT TO MUCH BETTER USE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.