Narrative:

After given a heading and descent from lga; last fix on the arrival; ny approach advised us 'ILS 4R;' providing our expected landing runway. Given further descent to 3000 feet; speed 180 knots; and vectors to the approach; handoff to arrival control. Overtasked controller provided us vectors to dogleg; then stated 'cleared ILS 4 left.' this took us by surprise; given our previous runway assignment. When I asked to clarify runway assignment; controller entered conversation with an [another aircraft] flight; trying to ascertain runway desired -- obviously confusion as to which aircraft was clarifying runway. The congested frequency prohibited our clarification; so we went with our last clearance; to fly ILS 4L; and we were handed off to tower. We were immediately high on profile for that runway. Pilot flying (PF) disconnected autopilot and began configuring; while I inserted new approach and called tower. Tower advised an aircraft departing prior to our arrival. The late approach change; high altitude; and initial confusion caused a scramble to get fully configured and stable by 500 feet. At that altitude we were still 20 knots fast; but I decided to continue; due to departing aircraft potentially becoming a traffic conflict on go around. We slowed and were stable on short final; rest of leg uneventful.overtaxed arrival controller confusing call; signs and assigning runway change late; on dogleg above vertical profile. In the future; I will clarify runway assignment upon handoff from approach to arrival controllers. Will demand lower altitude if above vertical profile.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767 Captain reported receiving a late runway change for the ILS on a parallel runway. The Captain was unstable on approach; but elected to continue landing due to the potential conflict with a departing aircraft if they would have gone around.

Narrative: After given a heading and descent from LGA; last fix on the arrival; NY approach advised us 'ILS 4R;' providing our expected landing runway. Given further descent to 3000 feet; speed 180 knots; and vectors to the approach; handoff to arrival control. Overtasked controller provided us vectors to dogleg; then stated 'cleared ILS 4 left.' This took us by surprise; given our previous runway assignment. When I asked to clarify runway assignment; controller entered conversation with an [another aircraft] flight; trying to ascertain runway desired -- obviously confusion as to which aircraft was clarifying runway. The congested frequency prohibited our clarification; so we went with our last clearance; to fly ILS 4L; and we were handed off to tower. We were immediately high on profile for that runway. Pilot Flying (PF) disconnected autopilot and began configuring; while I inserted new approach and called tower. Tower advised an aircraft departing prior to our arrival. The late approach change; high altitude; and initial confusion caused a scramble to get fully configured and stable by 500 feet. At that altitude we were still 20 knots fast; but I decided to continue; due to departing aircraft potentially becoming a traffic conflict on go around. We slowed and were stable on short final; rest of leg uneventful.Overtaxed arrival controller confusing call; signs and assigning runway change late; on dogleg above vertical profile. In the future; I will clarify runway assignment upon handoff from approach to arrival controllers. Will demand lower altitude if above vertical profile.

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.