Flight crew of an embraer E120 followed the wrong B737 onto final during a visual approach resulting in the one to be followed to stay behind and slow to provide spacing.

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Attributes
ACN	420441
Time
Date	199811
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : san airport : san
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : san tower : san tower : lvk
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	420441
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	other other : other pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	420370
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On downwind at 7000 ft we were cleared for a visual approach behind a B737 (on final). We turned base and descended after confirming with approach control that we had traffic 'in sight.' as we turned base, another B737 appeared off our left, also on final. We were then on tower frequency (lindberg). The B737 asked tower if they were now supposed to follow us. We checked in with tower and asked them if they wanted us to go around. They said no, and continued and instructed B737 to slow airspeed. I believe we should have followed the third B737 instead of the second B737.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN EMBRAER E120 FOLLOWED THE WRONG B737 ONTO FINAL DURING A VISUAL APCH RESULTING IN THE ONE TO BE FOLLOWED TO STAY BEHIND AND SLOW TO PROVIDE SPACING.

Narrative: ON DOWNWIND AT 7000 FT WE WERE CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH BEHIND A B737 (ON FINAL). WE TURNED BASE AND DSNDED AFTER CONFIRMING WITH APCH CTL THAT WE HAD TFC 'IN SIGHT.' AS WE TURNED BASE, ANOTHER B737 APPEARED OFF OUR L, ALSO ON FINAL. WE WERE THEN ON TWR FREQ (LINDBERG). THE B737 ASKED TWR IF THEY WERE NOW SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW US. WE CHKED IN WITH TWR AND ASKED THEM IF THEY WANTED US TO GO AROUND. THEY SAID NO, AND CONTINUED AND INSTRUCTED B737 TO SLOW AIRSPD. I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED THE THIRD B737 INSTEAD OF THE SECOND B737.

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.