Air carrier large transport wrong runway approach at dfw.

Attributes
ACN	151327
Time
Date	199007
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 206
ASRS Report	151327
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	151316
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During approach to dfw, approach was flown to a visibility alignment with runway 35R when cleared for a visibility to runway 36L. Initially runway 35R was set in FMC. When approach clearance was given to expect runway 36L, the FMC was reset to runway 36L and the ILS frequency set for runway 36L. The ILS inbound course was left at 194 from departure at sna. I was flying with HSI display in expanded ILS and the first officer was in map. With the ILS reciprocal heading shown my expectation of landing on the east runway instead of the west runways was reinforced. The controller asked several times if we had the airport in sight but never gave an indication radar indicated we were lining up on the wrong runway. Traffic advisories kept us from any near misses. Cockpit duties kept the first officer busy. The FMC centerline was extended in the map mode and the ILS runway 36L approach was executed. It would help if the term west complex or east complex were used as 35 and 36 as reciprocals of 17 and 18 turns out to be 36 and 35. Very confusing on visibility approachs if you don't do it every day.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT WRONG RWY APCH AT DFW.

Narrative: DURING APCH TO DFW, APCH WAS FLOWN TO A VIS ALIGNMENT WITH RWY 35R WHEN CLRED FOR A VIS TO RWY 36L. INITIALLY RWY 35R WAS SET IN FMC. WHEN APCH CLRNC WAS GIVEN TO EXPECT RWY 36L, THE FMC WAS RESET TO RWY 36L AND THE ILS FREQ SET FOR RWY 36L. THE ILS INBND COURSE WAS LEFT AT 194 FROM DEP AT SNA. I WAS FLYING WITH HSI DISPLAY IN EXPANDED ILS AND THE F/O WAS IN MAP. WITH THE ILS RECIPROCAL HDG SHOWN MY EXPECTATION OF LNDG ON THE E RWY INSTEAD OF THE W RWYS WAS REINFORCED. THE CTLR ASKED SEVERAL TIMES IF WE HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT BUT NEVER GAVE AN INDICATION RADAR INDICATED WE WERE LINING UP ON THE WRONG RWY. TFC ADVISORIES KEPT US FROM ANY NEAR MISSES. COCKPIT DUTIES KEPT THE F/O BUSY. THE FMC CTRLINE WAS EXTENDED IN THE MAP MODE AND THE ILS RWY 36L APCH WAS EXECUTED. IT WOULD HELP IF THE TERM W COMPLEX OR E COMPLEX WERE USED AS 35 AND 36 AS RECIPROCALS OF 17 AND 18 TURNS OUT TO BE 36 AND 35. VERY CONFUSING ON VIS APCHS IF YOU DON'T DO IT EVERY DAY.

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.