Narrative:

Lax approach controllers were issuing visual apches to lax. We were advised of an large transport to follow to the airport. We reported it in sight. The controller then cleared us for a visual to 25L reference the large transport who was for 25R. We then flew a heading to intercept the localizer 25L. We were then advised to switch to lax tower frequency. What the approach controller failed to tell us was that the large transport was tracking the 25L localizer and then would side step to the 25R runway. As we began to intercept the runway 25L localizer (at approximately same altitude and airspeed as the large transport), the large transport began a right turn off the localizer to side step to 25R. After landing, the pilot complained to tower that we came too close to him and that he had to side step earlier than planned because he didn't know if we had him in sight. The large transport pilot was upset because he claimed he did not have runway in sight when he had to side step. I telephoned the approach controller and he reviewed the tapes. After review, he told me that his phraseology to both aircraft should have been more precise. He did also point out that we should have been more vigilant and shouldn't have allowed ourselves to get that close to the large transport. I advised him that we assumed the large transport was lined up for 25R, since 25L and right appear very close to each other when viewed from the air. Simultaneous apches to 25L and right are commonplace at lax so situations like this could easily happen. Vigilance by pilots, and more precise instructions by ATC, will definitely prevent further incidents of this type. Thank you.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MDT ENCROACHED ON ACR LGT. BOTH WERE MAKING VISUAL APCHES TO PARALLEL RWYS AT LAX.

Narrative: LAX APCH CTLRS WERE ISSUING VISUAL APCHES TO LAX. WE WERE ADVISED OF AN LGT TO FOLLOW TO THE ARPT. WE REPORTED IT IN SIGHT. THE CTLR THEN CLRED US FOR A VISUAL TO 25L REFERENCE THE LGT WHO WAS FOR 25R. WE THEN FLEW A HDG TO INTERCEPT THE LOC 25L. WE WERE THEN ADVISED TO SWITCH TO LAX TWR FREQ. WHAT THE APCH CTLR FAILED TO TELL US WAS THAT THE LGT WAS TRACKING THE 25L LOC AND THEN WOULD SIDE STEP TO THE 25R RWY. AS WE BEGAN TO INTERCEPT THE RWY 25L LOC (AT APPROX SAME ALT AND AIRSPEED AS THE LGT), THE LGT BEGAN A RIGHT TURN OFF THE LOC TO SIDE STEP TO 25R. AFTER LNDG, THE PLT COMPLAINED TO TWR THAT WE CAME TOO CLOSE TO HIM AND THAT HE HAD TO SIDE STEP EARLIER THAN PLANNED BECAUSE HE DIDN'T KNOW IF WE HAD HIM IN SIGHT. THE LGT PLT WAS UPSET BECAUSE HE CLAIMED HE DID NOT HAVE RWY IN SIGHT WHEN HE HAD TO SIDE STEP. I TELEPHONED THE APCH CTLR AND HE REVIEWED THE TAPES. AFTER REVIEW, HE TOLD ME THAT HIS PHRASEOLOGY TO BOTH ACFT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PRECISE. HE DID ALSO POINT OUT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE VIGILANT AND SHOULDN'T HAVE ALLOWED OURSELVES TO GET THAT CLOSE TO THE LGT. I ADVISED HIM THAT WE ASSUMED THE LGT WAS LINED UP FOR 25R, SINCE 25L AND R APPEAR VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER WHEN VIEWED FROM THE AIR. SIMULTANEOUS APCHES TO 25L AND R ARE COMMONPLACE AT LAX SO SITUATIONS LIKE THIS COULD EASILY HAPPEN. VIGILANCE BY PLTS, AND MORE PRECISE INSTRUCTIONS BY ATC, WILL DEFINITELY PREVENT FURTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE. THANK YOU.

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.