Narrative:

Dtw approach cleared us for the visual runway 3R, to follow heavy DC10 turning right base. To allow separation for wake turbulence, I planned to square my turn to final. At that time dtw cleared a DC9 for a visual to runway 3R following heavy DC10. We spotted traffic (DC9) at our 1 O'clock position inside of us for the final. My intention was to continue on base leg, clear of that traffic until we could clarify sequence with ATC. While waiting for a chance to contact approach, we proceeded through the final to allow separation from the DC9. Approach contacted us before we had a chance to call, and they informed us that the DC9 was on final for runway 3L, and we should begin our turn for the runway 3R final. My first officer and I were both under the impression that the DC9 was on the final for runway 3R. We believe a breakdown in communication occurred between ourselves and approach. Possible contributing factors: heavy radio traffic on approach frequency. That may have prevented ATC from advising us of converging traffic. The frequency congestion would have been less if had there been separate frequencys for each runway. It would also make the DC9's assigned runway more evident.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE1900 OVERSHOOTS THE TURN TO FINAL FOR RWY 3R AT DTW WHEN THE CREW WAS ATTEMPTING SOME UNNEEDED SPACING BEHIND A DC9 ON A VISUAL FOR RWY 3L.

Narrative: DTW APCH CLRED US FOR THE VISUAL RWY 3R, TO FOLLOW HVY DC10 TURNING R BASE. TO ALLOW SEPARATION FOR WAKE TURB, I PLANNED TO SQUARE MY TURN TO FINAL. AT THAT TIME DTW CLRED A DC9 FOR A VISUAL TO RWY 3R FOLLOWING HVY DC10. WE SPOTTED TFC (DC9) AT OUR 1 O'CLOCK POS INSIDE OF US FOR THE FINAL. MY INTENTION WAS TO CONTINUE ON BASE LEG, CLR OF THAT TFC UNTIL WE COULD CLARIFY SEQUENCE WITH ATC. WHILE WAITING FOR A CHANCE TO CONTACT APCH, WE PROCEEDED THROUGH THE FINAL TO ALLOW SEPARATION FROM THE DC9. APCH CONTACTED US BEFORE WE HAD A CHANCE TO CALL, AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THE DC9 WAS ON FINAL FOR RWY 3L, AND WE SHOULD BEGIN OUR TURN FOR THE RWY 3R FINAL. MY FO AND I WERE BOTH UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE DC9 WAS ON THE FINAL FOR RWY 3R. WE BELIEVE A BREAKDOWN IN COM OCCURRED BTWN OURSELVES AND APCH. POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: HVY RADIO TFC ON APCH FREQ. THAT MAY HAVE PREVENTED ATC FROM ADVISING US OF CONVERGING TFC. THE FREQ CONGESTION WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS IF HAD THERE BEEN SEPARATE FREQS FOR EACH RWY. IT WOULD ALSO MAKE THE DC9'S ASSIGNED RWY MORE EVIDENT.

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.