Narrative:

We received the ATIS for anc which stated that the WX at anc was 1500' scattered, 5000' broken, visibility 10, wind 270 degrees at 11 KTS with visibility approachs to runway 24L. Advisories for moderate to severe turbulence from 16000' to 2000' MSL were in effect. During the let down that type of turbulence was encountered. We received vectors pointing us to the anc VOR with progressive right turns through northwest to north to northeast. With elmendorf AFB to the north we anticipated a turn to 060 degrees with a left base for the visibility to 24L. There are no published approachs for runways 24L/right at anc. At approximately 1-2 NM outside the marker for 06R and airspeed at 230 KTS, we received a descent to 1600' MSL with a 'cleared for the ILS to 06R, contact tower.' at that point the WX was not 150, nor were we tuned into the 06R ILS frequency having anticipated and briefed a 24L approach/landing. In our surprise and confusion at the runway change and as we turned to approximately 090 degrees to try to intercept, we (captain was flying) descended to 1300' MSL before reacting. I then saw a familiar ground reference (we were now clear of clouds) and acquired the air field at 11 O'clock. ATC noticed our altitude and queried us at which time I informed them we had the field visually and this was the first information we had received that the active was not 24L, but 06R. They merely acknowledged and cleared us to tower for the visibility. We landed west/O incident on 06R with an 11 KT tailwind. At no time in our descent/ approach did ATC inform us of either an updated ATIS or a runway change.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR BEING RADAR VECTORED FOR VISUAL APCH WAS ISSUED A LAST MINUTE RWY CHANGE IN CLOSE PROX TO THE ARPT.

Narrative: WE RECEIVED THE ATIS FOR ANC WHICH STATED THAT THE WX AT ANC WAS 1500' SCATTERED, 5000' BROKEN, VISIBILITY 10, WIND 270 DEGS AT 11 KTS WITH VIS APCHS TO RWY 24L. ADVISORIES FOR MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB FROM 16000' TO 2000' MSL WERE IN EFFECT. DURING THE LET DOWN THAT TYPE OF TURB WAS ENCOUNTERED. WE RECEIVED VECTORS POINTING US TO THE ANC VOR WITH PROGRESSIVE RIGHT TURNS THROUGH NW TO N TO NE. WITH ELMENDORF AFB TO THE N WE ANTICIPATED A TURN TO 060 DEGS WITH A LEFT BASE FOR THE VIS TO 24L. THERE ARE NO PUBLISHED APCHS FOR RWYS 24L/R AT ANC. AT APPROX 1-2 NM OUTSIDE THE MARKER FOR 06R AND AIRSPD AT 230 KTS, WE RECEIVED A DSCNT TO 1600' MSL WITH A 'CLRED FOR THE ILS TO 06R, CONTACT TWR.' AT THAT POINT THE WX WAS NOT 150, NOR WERE WE TUNED INTO THE 06R ILS FREQ HAVING ANTICIPATED AND BRIEFED A 24L APCH/LNDG. IN OUR SURPRISE AND CONFUSION AT THE RWY CHANGE AND AS WE TURNED TO APPROX 090 DEGS TO TRY TO INTERCEPT, WE (CAPT WAS FLYING) DSNDED TO 1300' MSL BEFORE REACTING. I THEN SAW A FAMILIAR GND REF (WE WERE NOW CLR OF CLOUDS) AND ACQUIRED THE AIR FIELD AT 11 O'CLOCK. ATC NOTICED OUR ALT AND QUERIED US AT WHICH TIME I INFORMED THEM WE HAD THE FIELD VISUALLY AND THIS WAS THE FIRST INFO WE HAD RECEIVED THAT THE ACTIVE WAS NOT 24L, BUT 06R. THEY MERELY ACKNOWLEDGED AND CLRED US TO TWR FOR THE VIS. WE LANDED W/O INCIDENT ON 06R WITH AN 11 KT TAILWIND. AT NO TIME IN OUR DSCNT/ APCH DID ATC INFORM US OF EITHER AN UPDATED ATIS OR A RWY CHANGE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.