Corporate jet Captain reported descending below the minimum vectoring altitude. Captain states it was caused by similar call signs.
Synopsis
Corporate jet Captain reported descending below the minimum vectoring altitude. Captain states it was caused by similar call signs.
Narrative
After 2 or 3 calls and vectors with this controller; we were at an altitude of 3000 feet and heard [Callsign] XYZ called out descend to 2000 feet. Pilot not flying (PNF) called back [Callsign] 'XXZ' descend to 2;000 ft. And he set 2;000 feet in altitude selector. When we did not here a correction that our call back was wrong we descended to 2;000 ft. After starting down I asked PNF to call back on radio if that was for 'XXZ'; us and the PNF instead asked 'Approach did [Callsign] XXZ miss a radio call?' The controller said no. 30 seconds later the controller said 'XXZ' return to 3;000 feet. Minimum Safe Altitude he said was 2900 feet in that area!So at about 2;500 ft. I; Pilot flying went back up to 3;000 ft. MSL. After that we heard another call sign on the same frequency moments later with another different call sign that included [Callsign] 'XYZ'. We may have responded back at the precise time the other aircraft did and blocked out their response. When we heard nothing back in our supposed wrong response to altitude change; we descended to 2;000 ft. Shortly their after we did hear the controller giving instructions to a call sign different from ours with a different number after it. The controller mixed up us- Aircraft X with Aircraft Y as there was no other aircraft that I know on the frequency with us.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.