Emb-145 first officer on a visual approach backed up by the localizer; overshot the runway by lining...

Narrative:

I briefed the visual and set the localizer course and frequency for runway 16L in the number two navigation. We accepted the visual approach clearance after calling the runway in sight and I armed the localizer. I was watching the runway anticipating the autopilot to capture the localizer for 16L. Right as ATC started calling us to tell us we had gone through the final approach course; I noticed that the localizer needle had already swung to the opposite side of where it should be for the runway I was looking at. Simultaneously the autopilot was beginning its slow bank to turn and intercept it. I disconnected the autopilot; corrected our course and landed without further incident.I believe that I had become complacent and quickly advised that I had the field in sight thinking I was looking at the correct runway.... It didn't even occur to me to double check I hadn't mistaken it for the parallel runway. If I don't let myself get complacent...and double check my perceptions of what I think is real; it would help prevent these sorts of incidents. If I rely on multiple sources to corroborate the facts before deciding; then these types of errors would probably decrease.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMB-145 First Officer on a visual approach backed up by the localizer; overshot the runway by lining up on a parallel runway. A slow to intercept autopilot was a factor in not recognizing the error.

Narrative: I briefed the visual and set the localizer course and frequency for Runway 16L in the Number Two NAV. We accepted the visual approach clearance after calling the runway in sight and I armed the localizer. I was watching the runway anticipating the autopilot to capture the localizer for 16L. Right as ATC started calling us to tell us we had gone through the final approach course; I noticed that the localizer needle had already swung to the opposite side of where it should be for the runway I was looking at. Simultaneously the autopilot was beginning its slow bank to turn and intercept it. I disconnected the autopilot; corrected our course and landed without further incident.I believe that I had become complacent and quickly advised that I had the field in sight thinking I was looking at the correct runway.... It didn't even occur to me to double check I hadn't mistaken it for the parallel runway. If I don't let myself get complacent...and double check my perceptions of what I think is real; it would help prevent these sorts of incidents. If I rely on multiple sources to corroborate the facts before deciding; then these types of errors would probably decrease.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Attributes
ACN	1169515
Time
Date	201404
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Component
Aircraft Component	Positional / Directional Sensing
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Emb-145 first officer on a visual approach backed up by the localizer; overshot the runway by lining up on a parallel runway. A slow to intercept autopilot was a factor in not recognizing the error.