Less than standard separation between two air carrier aircraft. Operational error.

Attributes
ACN	87081
Time
Date	198805
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : scy airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw tower : pvd
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	87081
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 580
ASRS Report	87091
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : insufficient time other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 15000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

We were inbound to dfw. Delays on arrival including holding, vectors and several speed changes. Flight with similar flight number on frequency. We were given descent to 8000' from 11000' by dfw approach controller after passing scurry VOR on scurry nine arrival. At 10500' given immediate climb to 11000' and right turn of 20 degree to 30 degree, due to two departure aircraft at 12 O'clock climbing to 10000'. Controller said she made mistake and clearance was for the flight with similar call sign but she had used our flight number with clearance, and we acknowledged receipt of it. Nearest aircraft (air carrier Y) was 2 to 3 NM ahead when we climbed back to 11000' (had descended to about 10300') and we did pick it up visually. Controller was nearly overloaded with arrival aircraft and using vectors and speed changes to space aircraft for approach. This and two similar flight numbers caused this conflict to occur. Situation was corrected prior to a dangerous condition but a few more seconds could have been disastrous. Report filed with company to change one flight number so this will not be as likely to recur. We suspect the approach controller radar conflict alert was sounded and a report may be made by the controller involved. Supplemental information from acn #87091: the approach controller appeared to be working at maximum capacity and an error of one digit on our call sign.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN TWO ACR ACFT. OPERATIONAL ERROR.

Narrative: WE WERE INBOUND TO DFW. DELAYS ON ARRIVAL INCLUDING HOLDING, VECTORS AND SEVERAL SPEED CHANGES. FLT WITH SIMILAR FLT NUMBER ON FREQ. WE WERE GIVEN DESCENT TO 8000' FROM 11000' BY DFW APCH CTLR AFTER PASSING SCURRY VOR ON SCURRY NINE ARRIVAL. AT 10500' GIVEN IMMEDIATE CLIMB TO 11000' AND RIGHT TURN OF 20 DEG TO 30 DEG, DUE TO TWO DEP ACFT AT 12 O'CLOCK CLIMBING TO 10000'. CTLR SAID SHE MADE MISTAKE AND CLRNC WAS FOR THE FLT WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGN BUT SHE HAD USED OUR FLT NUMBER WITH CLRNC, AND WE ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIPT OF IT. NEAREST ACFT (ACR Y) WAS 2 TO 3 NM AHEAD WHEN WE CLIMBED BACK TO 11000' (HAD DESCENDED TO ABOUT 10300') AND WE DID PICK IT UP VISUALLY. CTLR WAS NEARLY OVERLOADED WITH ARRIVAL ACFT AND USING VECTORS AND SPEED CHANGES TO SPACE ACFT FOR APCH. THIS AND TWO SIMILAR FLT NUMBERS CAUSED THIS CONFLICT TO OCCUR. SITUATION WAS CORRECTED PRIOR TO A DANGEROUS CONDITION BUT A FEW MORE SECONDS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. REPORT FILED WITH COMPANY TO CHANGE ONE FLT NUMBER SO THIS WILL NOT BE AS LIKELY TO RECUR. WE SUSPECT THE APCH CTLR RADAR CONFLICT ALERT WAS SOUNDED AND A REPORT MAY BE MADE BY THE CTLR INVOLVED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM ACN #87091: THE APCH CTLR APPEARED TO BE WORKING AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY AND AN ERROR OF ONE DIGIT ON OUR CALL SIGN.

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.