Narrative:

I was the on an approximately 3 mi final to runway 23L in cle. We had previously been cleared to land on runway 23L and acknowledged that clearance, I believe we were #2. Between receiving clearance and map (go around), captain was performing landing checklist and I heard the tower 'air carrier xx start slowing.' I responded with 'roger air carrier xx.' tower had taxied a DC10 into position and hold on runway 23L. I stated to captain that this wasn't going to work and spacing was inadequate. At approximately 1000 ft AGL we decided to go around. Captain called the go around and tower responded 'why the missed?' captain replied 'too tight spacing.' tower then responded with 'you were cleared to land on runway 23R.' obviously some miscom occurred. Executed nonevent go around and returned to cle for uneventful landing. I do not recall ever hearing or acknowledging clearance to land on runway 23R or sidestep. I have transited cle before and recall a tower controller who sounds like his microphone is too far from mouth. Upon listening to tower controller that day, captain and I remarked that that sounded like this controller. In retrospect we could have questioned the tower when DC10 was initially taxied into position and hold.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC EXECUTES A GAR AS THEY MISTAKENLY LINE UP ON A RWY THAT HAS A DEPARTING ACFT.

Narrative: I WAS THE ON AN APPROX 3 MI FINAL TO RWY 23L IN CLE. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CLRED TO LAND ON RWY 23L AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT CLRNC, I BELIEVE WE WERE #2. BTWN RECEIVING CLRNC AND MAP (GAR), CAPT WAS PERFORMING LNDG CHKLIST AND I HEARD THE TWR 'ACR XX START SLOWING.' I RESPONDED WITH 'ROGER ACR XX.' TWR HAD TAXIED A DC10 INTO POS AND HOLD ON RWY 23L. I STATED TO CAPT THAT THIS WASN'T GOING TO WORK AND SPACING WAS INADEQUATE. AT APPROX 1000 FT AGL WE DECIDED TO GAR. CAPT CALLED THE GAR AND TWR RESPONDED 'WHY THE MISSED?' CAPT REPLIED 'TOO TIGHT SPACING.' TWR THEN RESPONDED WITH 'YOU WERE CLRED TO LAND ON RWY 23R.' OBVIOUSLY SOME MISCOM OCCURRED. EXECUTED NONEVENT GAR AND RETURNED TO CLE FOR UNEVENTFUL LNDG. I DO NOT RECALL EVER HEARING OR ACKNOWLEDGING CLRNC TO LAND ON RWY 23R OR SIDESTEP. I HAVE TRANSITED CLE BEFORE AND RECALL A TWR CTLR WHO SOUNDS LIKE HIS MIKE IS TOO FAR FROM MOUTH. UPON LISTENING TO TWR CTLR THAT DAY, CAPT AND I REMARKED THAT THAT SOUNDED LIKE THIS CTLR. IN RETROSPECT WE COULD HAVE QUESTIONED THE TWR WHEN DC10 WAS INITIALLY TAXIED INTO POS AND HOLD.

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.