Airliner lines up with wrong runway at lax, produces conflict with wide body.

Attributes
ACN	120046
Time
Date	198908
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	120046
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	120094
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were told to fly heading 160 and maintain 4500 on base to 25R. Approach pointed out a widebody transport Y on final for 24R and asked if we had him in sight. We did and he told us to maintain visual separation and cleared visual approach to 25R. As we passed over the widebody transport Y, I started to descend and turn final. As we rolled out the captain said 'he should be passing under us now'. I looked out expecting to see him but didn't. I became concerned thinking he might be lined up for 25 and told the captain that I couldn't see the widebody transport Y and to find out where he is. He queried the controller. The controller said 'looks like he's low, looks like you're lined up for 24R' or something like that. I immediately confirmed that we had erred and turned toward 25R. The rest of the approach and landing was uneventful. It was dusk and the lights to 25R were not visible but 24 lights were right there at 12 O'clock.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AIRLINER LINES UP WITH WRONG RWY AT LAX, PRODUCES CONFLICT WITH WIDE BODY.

Narrative: WE WERE TOLD TO FLY HDG 160 AND MAINTAIN 4500 ON BASE TO 25R. APCH POINTED OUT A WDB Y ON FINAL FOR 24R AND ASKED IF WE HAD HIM IN SIGHT. WE DID AND HE TOLD US TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION AND CLRED VISUAL APCH TO 25R. AS WE PASSED OVER THE WDB Y, I STARTED TO DSND AND TURN FINAL. AS WE ROLLED OUT THE CAPT SAID 'HE SHOULD BE PASSING UNDER US NOW'. I LOOKED OUT EXPECTING TO SEE HIM BUT DIDN'T. I BECAME CONCERNED THINKING HE MIGHT BE LINED UP FOR 25 AND TOLD THE CAPT THAT I COULDN'T SEE THE WDB Y AND TO FIND OUT WHERE HE IS. HE QUERIED THE CTLR. THE CTLR SAID 'LOOKS LIKE HE'S LOW, LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE LINED UP FOR 24R' OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I IMMEDIATELY CONFIRMED THAT WE HAD ERRED AND TURNED TOWARD 25R. THE REST OF THE APCH AND LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. IT WAS DUSK AND THE LIGHTS TO 25R WERE NOT VISIBLE BUT 24 LIGHTS WERE RIGHT THERE AT 12 O'CLOCK.

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.