Controller cleared a taxiing aircraft to the wrong runway resulting in a go-around for a landing air...

Attributes
ACN	126993
Time
Date	198911
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	ground : holding ground other : taxi
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	landing : go around landing other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 15200 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	126993
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The controller said taxi into position and hold. I am sure he said runway 8L. Approaching the runway, I checked for traffic and noticed an small transport about 1 mi on final. I stopped the aircraft well short of the runway, then questioned the tower. The tower also said hold short, then told the small transport to go around. The controller told me ot had gone to the wrong runway, but admitted he might have said runway 8L when he meant runway 8R. I taxied to runway 8R. About 3 mins later, the controller actually did refer to one runway when he meant the other, when talking to a landing aircraft. The pilot realized it, and called the controller's attention to the mistake. Nothing dangerous occurred, but one can see the importance of checking for traffic and using the right runway--and also, watching what one says in communications.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR CLEARED A TAXIING ACFT TO THE WRONG RWY RESULTING IN A GO-AROUND FOR A LNDG ACFT.

Narrative: THE CTLR SAID TAXI INTO POS AND HOLD. I AM SURE HE SAID RWY 8L. APCHING THE RWY, I CHKED FOR TFC AND NOTICED AN SMT ABOUT 1 MI ON FINAL. I STOPPED THE ACFT WELL SHORT OF THE RWY, THEN QUESTIONED THE TWR. THE TWR ALSO SAID HOLD SHORT, THEN TOLD THE SMT TO GO AROUND. THE CTLR TOLD ME OT HAD GONE TO THE WRONG RWY, BUT ADMITTED HE MIGHT HAVE SAID RWY 8L WHEN HE MEANT RWY 8R. I TAXIED TO RWY 8R. ABOUT 3 MINS LATER, THE CTLR ACTUALLY DID REFER TO ONE RWY WHEN HE MEANT THE OTHER, WHEN TALKING TO A LNDG ACFT. THE PLT REALIZED IT, AND CALLED THE CTLR'S ATTN TO THE MISTAKE. NOTHING DANGEROUS OCCURRED, BUT ONE CAN SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF CHKING FOR TFC AND USING THE RIGHT RWY--AND ALSO, WATCHING WHAT ONE SAYS IN COMS.

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.

Controller cleared a taxiing aircraft to the wrong runway resulting in a go-around for a landing aircraft.