Pilot sighted wrong aircraft for visual approach.

Attributes
ACN	302071
Time
Date	199504
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rno
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rno tower : pie
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Phase	cruise other
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	302071
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 5000 vertical : 800
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were given a TA by approach control concerning a VFR aircraft flying through the area at 9500 ft. The copilot mistakenly idented the wrong aircraft, and compounded the mistake by telling approach control that we had visual on the aircraft. We all knew what happened next 'you're cleared for a visual approach runway 16L reno airport.' the captain and so questioned the copilot's identify as being incorrect. The captain stopped the descent and started a slight climb, had the copilot told approach control that we did not have a visual on the aircraft. Within seconds, we got a TA, then an RA and the command to climb. Approach controls's first TA gave us a clock position of 11. The aircraft came out of 1 to 2 O'clock position and passed below and behind our aircraft. I discussed with copilot about making hasty decisions in general. Above all, magnifying the problem by telling the controling agency you have a visual, over the concerns of other crewmembers that the sighting is incorrect.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT SIGHTED WRONG ACFT FOR VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN A TA BY APCH CTL CONCERNING A VFR ACFT FLYING THROUGH THE AREA AT 9500 FT. THE COPLT MISTAKENLY IDENTED THE WRONG ACFT, AND COMPOUNDED THE MISTAKE BY TELLING APCH CTL THAT WE HAD VISUAL ON THE ACFT. WE ALL KNEW WHAT HAPPENED NEXT 'YOU'RE CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH RWY 16L RENO ARPT.' THE CAPT AND SO QUESTIONED THE COPLT'S IDENT AS BEING INCORRECT. THE CAPT STOPPED THE DSCNT AND STARTED A SLIGHT CLB, HAD THE COPLT TOLD APCH CTL THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A VISUAL ON THE ACFT. WITHIN SECONDS, WE GOT A TA, THEN AN RA AND THE COMMAND TO CLB. APCH CTLS'S FIRST TA GAVE US A CLOCK POS OF 11. THE ACFT CAME OUT OF 1 TO 2 O'CLOCK POS AND PASSED BELOW AND BEHIND OUR ACFT. I DISCUSSED WITH COPLT ABOUT MAKING HASTY DECISIONS IN GENERAL. ABOVE ALL, MAGNIFYING THE PROB BY TELLING THE CTLING AGENCY YOU HAVE A VISUAL, OVER THE CONCERNS OF OTHER CREWMEMBERS THAT THE SIGHTING IS INCORRECT.

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.