Air carrier cleared to 3R, ILS approach. Shortly after told had been cleared to 3L. Instructed go ar...

Attributes
ACN	173720
Time
Date	199103
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dtw
State Reference	MI
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 26000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	173720
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were conducting a flight from boston to detroit and in contact with cleveland center when told to expect an approach to runway 3R at dtw. We briefed a 3R approach and when given an initial heading by dtw approach we set up our navigation rec for runway 3R. The approach controller was very busy, talking rapidly and occasionally not waiting for a reply. We were cleared for the approach and shortly thereafter the controller asked if we were flying the 3L ILS. We said no, we had been cleared to 3R. He said that he told us 3 times to expect 3L. This was news to us. He then gave us a heading to fly a 3R approach and cleared us to tower. Tower asked if we had the airport in sight and we said no. At 2000' AGL they asked us to go around, we did. (They later confirmed on the phone that there was no conflict, but were getting too close to 3R landing traffic). I feel the change from 3R to 3L originally was missed by us due to: controller gave 3L to another aircraft (there were 2 with very similar call signs, both went to 3L). Blocked transmission. Final clearance to us was given too rapidly. We are sure we never heard and did not acknowledge any change from 3R to 3L.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR CLEARED TO 3R, ILS APCH. SHORTLY AFTER TOLD HAD BEEN CLEARED TO 3L. INSTRUCTED GO AROUND.

Narrative: WE WERE CONDUCTING A FLT FROM BOSTON TO DETROIT AND IN CONTACT WITH CLEVELAND CTR WHEN TOLD TO EXPECT AN APCH TO RWY 3R AT DTW. WE BRIEFED A 3R APCH AND WHEN GIVEN AN INITIAL HDG BY DTW APCH WE SET UP OUR NAV REC FOR RWY 3R. THE APCH CTLR WAS VERY BUSY, TALKING RAPIDLY AND OCCASIONALLY NOT WAITING FOR A REPLY. WE WERE CLRED FOR THE APCH AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CTLR ASKED IF WE WERE FLYING THE 3L ILS. WE SAID NO, WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO 3R. HE SAID THAT HE TOLD US 3 TIMES TO EXPECT 3L. THIS WAS NEWS TO US. HE THEN GAVE US A HDG TO FLY A 3R APCH AND CLRED US TO TWR. TWR ASKED IF WE HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT AND WE SAID NO. AT 2000' AGL THEY ASKED US TO GO AROUND, WE DID. (THEY LATER CONFIRMED ON THE PHONE THAT THERE WAS NO CONFLICT, BUT WERE GETTING TOO CLOSE TO 3R LNDG TFC). I FEEL THE CHANGE FROM 3R TO 3L ORIGINALLY WAS MISSED BY US DUE TO: CTLR GAVE 3L TO ANOTHER ACFT (THERE WERE 2 WITH VERY SIMILAR CALL SIGNS, BOTH WENT TO 3L). BLOCKED XMISSION. FINAL CLRNC TO US WAS GIVEN TOO RAPIDLY. WE ARE SURE WE NEVER HEARD AND DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY CHANGE FROM 3R TO 3L.

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.

Air carrier cleared to 3R, ILS approach. Shortly after told had been cleared to 3L. Instructed go around.