Runway confusion for air carrier large transport on vectors for approach at mia.

Attributes
ACN	174609
Time
Date	199103
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mia
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mia
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
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 : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	174609
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On approach, flying right downwind for runway 27R in and out of clouds with thunderstorms in area, we were informed by mia approach we would fly the 27R approach. Approximately 14 DME from the field, we were turned to base leg and descended to 3000'. We were told now to expect an approach to 27L and we set the ILS to 27L. Several mi south of 27L centerline, we were told to head 290 degrees and intercept 27L cleared for approach. About 12 mi from the airport we intercepted and followed the 27L course. We broke out into the clear near 11 DME, lined up to 27L. Approach called us and asked if we were maintaining a 290 degree heading to intercept 27R! We switched navaids again to 27R, intercepted ILS 27R to a normal approach and landing. There was no conflict of any traffic. This was the second time in 1 1/2 yrs that mia approach control has cleared us to different runways.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RWY CONFUSION FOR ACR LGT ON VECTORS FOR APCH AT MIA.

Narrative: ON APCH, FLYING RIGHT DOWNWIND FOR RWY 27R IN AND OUT OF CLOUDS WITH TSTMS IN AREA, WE WERE INFORMED BY MIA APCH WE WOULD FLY THE 27R APCH. APPROX 14 DME FROM THE FIELD, WE WERE TURNED TO BASE LEG AND DSNDED TO 3000'. WE WERE TOLD NOW TO EXPECT AN APCH TO 27L AND WE SET THE ILS TO 27L. SEVERAL MI S OF 27L CENTERLINE, WE WERE TOLD TO HEAD 290 DEGS AND INTERCEPT 27L CLRED FOR APCH. ABOUT 12 MI FROM THE ARPT WE INTERCEPTED AND FOLLOWED THE 27L COURSE. WE BROKE OUT INTO THE CLR NEAR 11 DME, LINED UP TO 27L. APCH CALLED US AND ASKED IF WE WERE MAINTAINING A 290 DEG HDG TO INTERCEPT 27R! WE SWITCHED NAVAIDS AGAIN TO 27R, INTERCEPTED ILS 27R TO A NORMAL APCH AND LNDG. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT OF ANY TFC. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IN 1 1/2 YRS THAT MIA APCH CTL HAS CLRED US TO DIFFERENT RWYS.

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.