Narrative:

On approach into chicago O'hare and cleared for the visual approach for runway 28R we were given an intercept heading of 310 (approaching from the southeast) and cleared for the visual approach to runway 28R. Once cleared for the approach I armed the approach mode on the glareshield; less than 2 seconds later the autopilot had captured a false localizer and began a left turn; I then disengaged the approach mode and selected heading mode to return to the proper intercept heading. I had held off on re-engaging the approach mode to ensure that it would not capture the false localizer again. I maintained a visual contact with the airport and landing runway. I also kept monitoring the pfd to see if the localizer would come 'alive'. There was no movement. I had taken a fast peek to ensure that we had set up and briefed the proper approach and we had. The localizer frequency of 111.1 for 28R was in the proper radio and the 28R approach was loaded in the FMS as a backup to our visual approach. I was rather shocked that the localizer wasn't moving just then I looked up and noticed we had closed in on the runway quicker than I had expected at which point I disengaged the autopilot and rolled into a 40 degree bank to avoid an overshoot. At which time the approach controller had transmitted that it appeared I overshot the localizer but there was no traffic on the parallel northern runway; 27L; we were still outside willt intersection. The localizer had captured prior to seeing an actual movement on the HSI until we were literally right on top of the course when it quickly moved to center. There was no TA or RA and the rest of the approach was uneventful. Hand flying with a greater frequency using pilotage and not relying on automation. Maintaining better situational awareness.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Regional jet Captain reports being cleared for the visual approach to Runway 28R at ORD and intercepting a false localizer before returning to heading select; then overshooting the real localizer because the approach mode had not been rearmed.

Narrative: On approach into Chicago O'hare and cleared for the visual approach for Runway 28R we were given an intercept heading of 310 (approaching from the southeast) and cleared for the Visual Approach to Runway 28R. Once cleared for the approach I armed the approach mode on the glareshield; less than 2 seconds later the autopilot had captured a false localizer and began a left turn; I then disengaged the approach mode and selected heading mode to return to the proper intercept heading. I had held off on re-engaging the approach mode to ensure that it would not capture the false localizer again. I maintained a visual contact with the airport and landing runway. I also kept monitoring the PFD to see if the localizer would come 'alive'. There was no movement. I had taken a fast peek to ensure that we had set up and briefed the proper approach and we had. The localizer frequency of 111.1 for 28R was in the proper radio and the 28R approach was loaded in the FMS as a backup to our visual approach. I was rather shocked that the localizer wasn't moving just then I looked up and noticed we had closed in on the runway quicker than I had expected at which point I disengaged the autopilot and rolled into a 40 degree bank to avoid an overshoot. At which time the Approach Controller had transmitted that it appeared I overshot the localizer but there was no traffic on the parallel northern Runway; 27L; we were still outside WILLT Intersection. The localizer had captured prior to seeing an actual movement on the HSI until we were literally right on top of the course when it quickly moved to center. There was no TA or RA and the rest of the approach was uneventful. Hand flying with a greater frequency using pilotage and not relying on automation. Maintaining better situational awareness.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.