Narrative:

We were on a right downwind for runway 19 at sfo at 6000 ft MSL, and the first officer was flying. We had just checked on with bay approach who sounded weak. We were instructed to turn from a 100 degree heading to a 190 degree heading. We were cleared for the visual to runway 29. We initiated a descent in the turn as well as completing the before landing checklist, as well as receiving a traffic call for an A320 or B737 that was at our 10 O'clock position and 6 mi and following behind us (we were on a right base). After rolling out of the turn, completing the before landing check, and responding to the traffic call, I was finally able to see out of the right window. Realizing that we were going to fly through final approach to runway 29, I directed the first officer to turn right to the landing runway, and to correct back to it. We ended up flying through the runway 29, runway 28R, and runway 28L finals. There were no other aircraft approaching those runways, except #2 aircraft several mi behind us (who had us in sight). A traffic conflict never occurred. The first officer did not completely hear that we were cleared for the visual and was merely flying a 190 degree heading. While we were in the right turn to base, my view to the aircraft right was obstructed, and I was distraction by PNF duties. We landed without event.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: E120 CREW CUT ACROSS FINAL APCH FOR RWYS 29R&L AFTER BEING GIVEN A VISUAL TO RWY 29 AT SFO.

Narrative: WE WERE ON A R DOWNWIND FOR RWY 19 AT SFO AT 6000 FT MSL, AND THE FO WAS FLYING. WE HAD JUST CHKED ON WITH BAY APCH WHO SOUNDED WEAK. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO TURN FROM A 100 DEG HDG TO A 190 DEG HDG. WE WERE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL TO RWY 29. WE INITIATED A DSCNT IN THE TURN AS WELL AS COMPLETING THE BEFORE LNDG CHKLIST, AS WELL AS RECEIVING A TFC CALL FOR AN A320 OR B737 THAT WAS AT OUR 10 O'CLOCK POS AND 6 MI AND FOLLOWING BEHIND US (WE WERE ON A R BASE). AFTER ROLLING OUT OF THE TURN, COMPLETING THE BEFORE LNDG CHK, AND RESPONDING TO THE TFC CALL, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE R WINDOW. REALIZING THAT WE WERE GOING TO FLY THROUGH FINAL APCH TO RWY 29, I DIRECTED THE FO TO TURN R TO THE LNDG RWY, AND TO CORRECT BACK TO IT. WE ENDED UP FLYING THROUGH THE RWY 29, RWY 28R, AND RWY 28L FINALS. THERE WERE NO OTHER ACFT APCHING THOSE RWYS, EXCEPT #2 ACFT SEVERAL MI BEHIND US (WHO HAD US IN SIGHT). A TFC CONFLICT NEVER OCCURRED. THE FO DID NOT COMPLETELY HEAR THAT WE WERE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL AND WAS MERELY FLYING A 190 DEG HDG. WHILE WE WERE IN THE R TURN TO BASE, MY VIEW TO THE ACFT R WAS OBSTRUCTED, AND I WAS DISTR BY PNF DUTIES. WE LANDED WITHOUT EVENT.

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.