Narrative:

During flight from boston to newark, our flight apparently landed on runway 4L in newark with another aircraft in position at the departure end of the runway. Event occurred as follows: ATIS information was obtained within 30 mins of ETA. XA50 WX included a NOTAM indicating that runway 4R was closed, and the approach to be expected was an ILS to runway 4R 'sidestep' to runway 4L. Vectors were provided to a point approximately 6-8 mi with instructions to follow an small transport. Visual contact with aircraft was made only momentarily and approach control informed of the fact. A visual approach was subsequently provided, with a speed restriction of 160 KTS. Aircraft was cleared to land after contacting the tower. At approximately 500 ft, a red, pulsating light was noticed that appeared to be within the approach light system. To all appearances, it closely resembled a barrier light, or red obstruction light. As we passed overhead, the first officer was able to determine that it was a stationary aircraft. A normal landing was made at XB28. Salient facts: despite a certain paranoia regarding landing on the incorrect runway, and a resulting tendency to listen very carefully to radio xmissions and clrncs, at no time did I ever hear anything which would cause me to question which runway we were cleared to land. In other words, I heard 'runway 4L' for all xmissions and vectors. ATIS indicated runway 4R was closed, and no indication was ever given that information had changed. Most importantly, with the exception of the red beacon, aircraft on ground was absolutely invisible to me. Conclusions: either an incorrect clearance was given, or entire flight crew misunderstood. Equally frightening and dangerous phenomena.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF LGT ACR ACFT INADVERTENTLY LANDED OVER ANOTHER ACR ACFT WAITING IN POS ON THE DEP END OF THE RWY.

Narrative: DURING FLT FROM BOSTON TO NEWARK, OUR FLT APPARENTLY LANDED ON RWY 4L IN NEWARK WITH ANOTHER ACFT IN POS AT THE DEP END OF THE RWY. EVENT OCCURRED AS FOLLOWS: ATIS INFO WAS OBTAINED WITHIN 30 MINS OF ETA. XA50 WX INCLUDED A NOTAM INDICATING THAT RWY 4R WAS CLOSED, AND THE APCH TO BE EXPECTED WAS AN ILS TO RWY 4R 'SIDESTEP' TO RWY 4L. VECTORS WERE PROVIDED TO A POINT APPROX 6-8 MI WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW AN SMT. VISUAL CONTACT WITH ACFT WAS MADE ONLY MOMENTARILY AND APCH CTL INFORMED OF THE FACT. A VISUAL APCH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PROVIDED, WITH A SPD RESTRICTION OF 160 KTS. ACFT WAS CLRED TO LAND AFTER CONTACTING THE TWR. AT APPROX 500 FT, A RED, PULSATING LIGHT WAS NOTICED THAT APPEARED TO BE WITHIN THE APCH LIGHT SYS. TO ALL APPEARANCES, IT CLOSELY RESEMBLED A BARRIER LIGHT, OR RED OBSTRUCTION LIGHT. AS WE PASSED OVERHEAD, THE FO WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT IT WAS A STATIONARY ACFT. A NORMAL LNDG WAS MADE AT XB28. SALIENT FACTS: DESPITE A CERTAIN PARANOIA REGARDING LNDG ON THE INCORRECT RWY, AND A RESULTING TENDENCY TO LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY TO RADIO XMISSIONS AND CLRNCS, AT NO TIME DID I EVER HEAR ANYTHING WHICH WOULD CAUSE ME TO QUESTION WHICH RWY WE WERE CLRED TO LAND. IN OTHER WORDS, I HEARD 'RWY 4L' FOR ALL XMISSIONS AND VECTORS. ATIS INDICATED RWY 4R WAS CLOSED, AND NO INDICATION WAS EVER GIVEN THAT INFO HAD CHANGED. MOST IMPORTANTLY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE RED BEACON, ACFT ON GND WAS ABSOLUTELY INVISIBLE TO ME. CONCLUSIONS: EITHER AN INCORRECT CLRNC WAS GIVEN, OR ENTIRE FLC MISUNDERSTOOD. EQUALLY FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS PHENOMENA.

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.