Air carrier widebody transport given an incorrect vector has to go around to be repositioned.

Attributes
ACN	163055
Time
Date	199011
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jfk
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	observation : observer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	163055
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The following occurred during a frontal passage at jfk which necessitated a runway change. (Busy time for all!) after an hour of holding at camrn, we were vectored to a final intercept for the ILS on 31R. During this time we heard the controller ask a commuter flight if he would prefer 31L. The answer was affirmative. I believe he was given clearance for same at that time. As we were about to intercept the localizer for 31R, the controller said, 'I observe you going through the localizer for 31L; turn left to (?) heading to intercept.' the problem seemed to be that the controller confused our clearance with that of the commuter flight. We were subsequently given a missed approach as we were too close in for a realistic intercept.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB GIVEN AN INCORRECT VECTOR HAS TO GO AROUND TO BE REPOSITIONED.

Narrative: THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED DURING A FRONTAL PASSAGE AT JFK WHICH NECESSITATED A RWY CHANGE. (BUSY TIME FOR ALL!) AFTER AN HR OF HOLDING AT CAMRN, WE WERE VECTORED TO A FINAL INTERCEPT FOR THE ILS ON 31R. DURING THIS TIME WE HEARD THE CTLR ASK A COMMUTER FLT IF HE WOULD PREFER 31L. THE ANSWER WAS AFFIRMATIVE. I BELIEVE HE WAS GIVEN CLRNC FOR SAME AT THAT TIME. AS WE WERE ABOUT TO INTERCEPT THE LOC FOR 31R, THE CTLR SAID, 'I OBSERVE YOU GOING THROUGH THE LOC FOR 31L; TURN LEFT TO (?) HDG TO INTERCEPT.' THE PROB SEEMED TO BE THAT THE CTLR CONFUSED OUR CLRNC WITH THAT OF THE COMMUTER FLT. WE WERE SUBSEQUENTLY GIVEN A MISSED APCH AS WE WERE TOO CLOSE IN FOR A REALISTIC INTERCEPT.

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.