Narrative:

First officer flying aircraft visibility 2L, 2R bna in VMC. Arrival used was graham 1. Inbound bearing to bna was approximately 060 degrees. Airport in sight at 12 O'clock. I asked first officer if he had airport--he nodded yes. I asked for and received (airport insight) a visibility to 2L. Both navigation receivers tuned to 110.9 (ILS 2L). Dobbs locator was out. Descent was started and aircraft was slowed. As I completed the descent and landing checks, I looked up and didn't see the airport--but the G/south looked good and the localizer starts to capture. I looked to where the airport should have been and I didn't see the runway. The first officer was not responding to the situation. It didn't make any sense. Just as I knew we were lost, approach called and asked if we had airport. I guessed wrong and he knew we were lost also. He cancelled our clearance and told us to climb to 3000', and turn right to 140 degrees. Airport was at our 10 O'clock position. Normal landing made. I called the TRACON and told them I was sorry for the confusion and said 'thanks for the help.' very embarrassing! Factors: 1) dobbs locator not working, would have pointed to 5 mi final; 2) dark conditions, lots of lights; 3) flight guidance computer went into capture mode prematurely; 4) first officer flying to who knows where--should have said, 'I don't have it;' 5) my accepting a visibility when I didn't have the runway. In the past, I would accept a visibility when I had the navaids. Now I will clearly have the runway.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG FLT CREW ACCEPTED A VISUAL APCH TO BNA WITHOUT THE ARPT IN SIGHT. HAD TO ABANDON THE APCH.

Narrative: F/O FLYING ACFT VIS 2L, 2R BNA IN VMC. ARR USED WAS GRAHAM 1. INBND BEARING TO BNA WAS APPROX 060 DEGS. ARPT IN SIGHT AT 12 O'CLOCK. I ASKED F/O IF HE HAD ARPT--HE NODDED YES. I ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED (ARPT INSIGHT) A VIS TO 2L. BOTH NAV RECEIVERS TUNED TO 110.9 (ILS 2L). DOBBS LOCATOR WAS OUT. DSCNT WAS STARTED AND ACFT WAS SLOWED. AS I COMPLETED THE DSCNT AND LNDG CHKS, I LOOKED UP AND DIDN'T SEE THE ARPT--BUT THE G/S LOOKED GOOD AND THE LOC STARTS TO CAPTURE. I LOOKED TO WHERE THE ARPT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND I DIDN'T SEE THE RWY. THE F/O WAS NOT RESPONDING TO THE SITUATION. IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. JUST AS I KNEW WE WERE LOST, APCH CALLED AND ASKED IF WE HAD ARPT. I GUESSED WRONG AND HE KNEW WE WERE LOST ALSO. HE CANCELLED OUR CLRNC AND TOLD US TO CLB TO 3000', AND TURN RIGHT TO 140 DEGS. ARPT WAS AT OUR 10 O'CLOCK POS. NORMAL LNDG MADE. I CALLED THE TRACON AND TOLD THEM I WAS SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION AND SAID 'THANKS FOR THE HELP.' VERY EMBARRASSING! FACTORS: 1) DOBBS LOCATOR NOT WORKING, WOULD HAVE POINTED TO 5 MI FINAL; 2) DARK CONDITIONS, LOTS OF LIGHTS; 3) FLT GUIDANCE COMPUTER WENT INTO CAPTURE MODE PREMATURELY; 4) F/O FLYING TO WHO KNOWS WHERE--SHOULD HAVE SAID, 'I DON'T HAVE IT;' 5) MY ACCEPTING A VIS WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE THE RWY. IN THE PAST, I WOULD ACCEPT A VIS WHEN I HAD THE NAVAIDS. NOW I WILL CLEARLY HAVE THE RWY.

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.