Air carrier lands without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	202470
Time
Date	199202
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den
State Reference	CO
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ont
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
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 : 180 flight time total : 9800 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	202470
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	incursion : landing without clearance non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on a visual approach to runway 26L at den we neglected to contact the tower for clearance to land. We did not even realize our mistake until holding short of parallel runway 26R to cross. We then switched to tower frequency, apologized and were cleared to cross the parallel. The tower reported 'no problem' to us but neither of us really felt that way. This was a very serious 'problem' for our crew coordination. There simply was no excuse for us. Nothing out of the ordinary was in process during the approach. We simply allowed the usual heavy congestion on the approach frequency to distract us from the task at hand. Fortunately for all, there was no conflict. However, another reminder of the need for keen situational awareness during 'normal' operations was gained.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LANDS WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: WHILE ON A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 26L AT DEN WE NEGLECTED TO CONTACT THE TWR FOR CLRNC TO LAND. WE DID NOT EVEN REALIZE OUR MISTAKE UNTIL HOLDING SHORT OF PARALLEL RWY 26R TO CROSS. WE THEN SWITCHED TO TWR FREQ, APOLOGIZED AND WERE CLRED TO CROSS THE PARALLEL. THE TWR RPTED 'NO PROBLEM' TO US BUT NEITHER OF US REALLY FELT THAT WAY. THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS 'PROBLEM' FOR OUR CREW COORD. THERE SIMPLY WAS NO EXCUSE FOR US. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS IN PROCESS DURING THE APCH. WE SIMPLY ALLOWED THE USUAL HVY CONGESTION ON THE APCH FREQ TO DISTRACT US FROM THE TASK AT HAND. FORTUNATELY FOR ALL, THERE WAS NO CONFLICT. HOWEVER, ANOTHER REMINDER OF THE NEED FOR KEEN SITUATIONAL AWARENESS DURING 'NORMAL' OPS WAS GAINED.

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.